This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Barry Bonds finally sat across the San Francisco courtroom Monday from the 12 people who will judge whether or not the greatest home-run hitter of all time lied about taking drugs.
After a daylong selection process, eight women and four men were picked to hear the federal government's case against the former San Francisco Giants star, who is charged with four counts of lying to a grand jury and one count of obstruction for testifying in 2003 that he never knowingly used performance-enhancing drugs.
Among the jurors there was no shortage of opinion on baseball's steroids era or drugs in sports, though all indicated they could rule impartially in Bonds' case; the trial could last about four weeks.
Around the horn
Mets • New York released pitcher Oliver Perez on Monday, two days after the lefty allowed consecutive home runs to minor leaguers. The Mets absorbed the $12 million left on Perez's $36 million, three-year contract.
Phillies • Philadelphia signed three-time All-Star second baseman Luis Castillo to a minor league contract on Monday. Castillo will compete for playing time while five-time All-Star Chase Utley recovers from a right knee injury.
Angels • Los Angeles optioned infielder Freddy Sandoval to the Salt Lake Bees of the Pacific Coast League.