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Rays' Aybar In Jail

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A Tribune staff, wire report

Published: February 5, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - New Rays infielder Willy Aybar has been jailed in the Dominican Republic since late last week and reportedly is facing domestic violence charges.
ESPN Deportes reported Monday that Aybar, 24, has been held without bail since Thursday after he allegedly assaulted his wife. Jesus Fernandez Velez, the prosecutor handling the case in the Dominican, told ESPN's Spanish-language site that Aybar could face "at least three more months in jail" if convicted.

Aybar may have a hearing today to determine the status of the charges. The player's attorneys reportedly told the prosecutor they expect Aybar's wife to drop the complaint, but that has not yet occurred.

A Rays spokesman said Monday night the team didn't have enough information to comment on the case. Aybar's agent, Luis Valdez, did not return a phone message.

The Rays acquired Aybar and minor-league infielder Chase Fontaine from Atlanta on Jan. 17 for left-hander Jeff Ridgway. Aybar is expected to fill a super-utility role while also serving as a fallback option at third base if Evan Longoria isn't ready.

Marc Lancaster

Pettitte Testifies; Clemens Is Up Next

WASHINGTON - Not one of Roger Clemens' flat-out denials about using steroids or human growth hormone was delivered while he spoke under oath. Now he gets that chance.

The seven-time Cy Young Award winner is scheduled to give a deposition to lawyers from a congressional committee behind closed doors today, one day after his former New York Yankees teammate and workout partner Andy Pettitte delivered sworn testimony for about 2 1/2 hours.

Both pitchers' private interviews with staff members from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee are part of preparation for a Feb. 13 hearing. That public session is expected to focus on allegations made in the Mitchell Report by trainer Brian McNamee that he injected Clemens more than a dozen times with performance enhancers.

Clemens, 45, is eighth in major-league history with 354 wins.

"Roger is not going to take the Fifth Amendment," said one of Clemens' lawyers, Rusty Hardin.

Pettitte, who chose to be deposed, did not take questions from reporters.

CARDINALS: After sitting out the past two seasons, two-time AL MVP Juan Gonzalez will be one of 26 non-roster players invited to spring training camp.

DODGERS: Reliever Rudy Seanez re-signed with Los Angeles, agreeing to a $550,000, one-year deal.

TIGERS: Curtis Granderson agreed to a $30.25 million, five-year contract that includes a club option for 2013 that could make the deal worth up to $43.25 million.

UMPIRE DIES: At Butler, Pa. Ed Vargo, 79, a longtime National League umpire who worked in four World Series and was behind the plate when Hank Aaron tied Babe Ruth's career home run mark, died Saturday.

Vargo umpired in the National League from 1960 to 1983, worked the 1965, 1971, 1978 and 1983 World Series and in four All-Star games.

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