Boldenone

Former All-Star outfielder Matt Lawton was suspended Wednesday after becoming the 12th player penalized for violating baseball's steroids policy.

Lawton, acquired by the Yankees from the Cubs on Aug. 27 and then left off New York's postseason roster, became a free agent last Thursday. He will serve a 10-day suspension at the start of next season.

"I made a terrible and foolish mistake that I will regret for the rest of my life," Lawton said in a statement. "I take full responsibility for my actions and did not appeal my suspension. I apologize to the fans, the game, my family and all those people that I let down. I am truly sorry and deeply regret my terrible lapse in judgment."

Lawton said the positive test occurred after he was acquired by the Yankees but did not answer other questions.

The substance he tested positive for was boldenone, a person familiar with the test results said.

"It's a veterinary steroid. I think it's primarily used in horses," said Gary Wadler, a professor of sports medicine at New York University and an expert on performance-enhancing drugs.

An All-Star with Minnesota in 2000 and Cleveland in 2004, Lawton hit a combined .254 with 13 homers and 53 RBI this season for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cubs and Yankees. He turns 35 this month.

epstein speaks: Theo Epstein fled Fenway Park in a gorilla costume on his last day as Boston Red Sox general manager. It was Halloween, and the TV paparazzi were none the wiser.

Yes, Epstein said, it was inconvenient to have reporters camped out at his home. But he didn't give up what had been his dream job because of the sometimes suffocating interest in the team, a fascination that became a frenzy after Epstein helped build the Red Sox into World Series champions in 2004.

It was "unfortunate," he added, that details of his contract negotiations with longtime mentor Larry Lucchino leaked out. But that's not why he left, either.

"You have to be all-in," he said. "You have to believe in every aspect of the job and the organization and your ability to stay and do the job the right way, with your whole heart and your whole soul. And in the end, it just wasn't the right fit. It wasn't right.

"If there are reports of a power struggle or meddling on behalf of Larry, that really wasn't the case," Epstein said. "Essentially, I felt like I had pretty much a free hand to run the baseball operation the way I saw fit.

"We've had a very successful working relationship. I think Larry and I like each other. ... He's done a lot for me. I owe him quite a bit, and I take that to heart."

Reds Find Buyer: Carl Lindner agreed to sell the controlling interest in the Cincinnati Reds to a group of area businessmen, keeping baseball's first professional franchise in local hands.

The group is headed by Robert Castellini, chairman of a Cincinnati-based produce company, and relatives of a family that owned the team in the 1970s. The sale must be approved by Major League Baseball.

M's keep Guardado: Pitcher Eddie Guardado's $6.25 million option for next year was exercised by the Seattle Mariners, who chose to keep him rather than explore an uncertain free-agent market.

The 35-year-old left-hander was 2-3 with a 2.72 ERA and 36 saves last season.

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