Indians Want Paul Byrd To The Tune Of $7.5 Million

CLEVELAND (AP) When we last heard about Paul Byrd, he was defending his admitted use of human growth hormone. Now the <a href="http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=cle" target="_blank">Cleveland

Tuesday, November 6th 2007, 4:39 pm

By: News On 6

CLEVELAND (AP) When we last heard about Paul Byrd, he was defending his admitted use of human growth hormone. Now the Cleveland Indians have picked up the pitcher's $7.5 million option for 2008.

Before Game 7 of the American League championship series in Boston, Paul Byrd acknowledged taking HGH after the San Francisco Chronicle reported he spent nearly $25,000 on the banned drug and syringes from 2002 to 2005. The 36-year-old pitcher claims he took HGH for a medical condition and did so only under a doctor's supervision.

Paul Byrd is expected to meet with Major League Baseball officials to discuss his use of the performance-enhancing drug.

The Indians also exercised their $4 million option on closer Joe Borowski, who led the American League with 45 saves last season, and $1.5 million option on left-handed reliever Aaron Fultz.