Andrew Baggarly-Mercury News
Brian Sabean has no intention of stepping down as the Giants' general manager and the club fully supports moving forward with him, a club spokesperson said Friday.
"The whole group is intact, absolutely," said Staci Slaughter, the Giants' vice president of communications.
The organization dismissed questions about whether Sabean's relationship with Giants managing partner Peter Magowan might be harmed irreparably after the two men provided conflicting information to former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell's investigation into steroid use.
The Mitchell report, released Thursday, included a 2002 incident in which Stan Conte, then the Giants' trainer, told Sabean that he suspected Barry Bonds' personal trainer, Greg Anderson, was dealing steroids in the clubhouse. Sabean took no action.
Shortly after federal agents raided Balco Laboratories and Anderson's home in September 2003, Magowan told investigators that he asked Sabean whether the Giants "had a problem" with Anderson dispensing steroids to players.
"According to Magowan, Sabean responded that he was not aware of any problem the Giants might have," the Mitchell report stated. "However, Sabean strongly denied that such a conversation occurred."
Sabean signed a two-year contract extension in July.
"Obviously, Peter has tremendous confidence in Brian and always has," Slaughter said. "He is a valued colleague and friend to him. The goal of the organization is to move forward and put the best team on the field as possible."
A baseball source said Magowan and Sabean met with Mitchell's investigators during the summer, possibly before Sabean signed his extension, and that the general manager would have worked out any issues with Magowan at that time.
Others who know Sabean said that he would move forward from the incident and that he wouldn't quit a well-compensated job that he finds personally rewarding and allows him to be close to his family.
Sabean is said to be energized by his recent hires of scouting advisers Ed Creech, John Barr and Ron Schueler, and remains focused on improving the roster by adding a cleanup hitter and relief help.
Sabean has not commented on the Mitchell report and efforts to reach him Friday were unsuccessful. Magowan was traveling in Europe and could not be reached for additional comment.
The Giants have spoken to agent Scott Boras about infielder Dallas McPherson, who became a free agent when the Los Angeles Angels did not tender him a contract. McPherson is coming off back surgery but he is a former top prospect with home run potential and could play first or third base.
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