House committee calls Knoblauch

Chuck Knoblauch was issued a subpoena by a congressional committee Tuesday, ordering him to appear under oath to discuss the use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball.

The former second baseman could emerge as a critical witness in the dispute between Roger Clemens and his former trainer, Brian McNamee. In the Mitchell Report, McNamee said he injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone and Knoblauch and Andy Pettitte with human growth hormone.

Clemens has denied McNamee’s claims and filed a defamation suit against him. Pettitte confirmed he had used HGH -- thus bolstering McNamee’s credibility, according to George Mitchell. Knoblauch has neither confirmed nor denied McNamee’s account.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has asked McNamee and the three players -- teammates on the New York Yankees in 2000-01, when McNamee worked as a strength coach for the team -- to testify in a Feb. 13 hearing and appear for questioning before then.

The committee is working with attorneys representing Clemens, Pettitte and McNamee to finalize interviews. No attorney has informed the committee he is representing Knoblauch, a source said.

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Beverly Hills), the committee chairman, and Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.), the top Republican on the committee, said in a statement: “The committee has taken this step because Mr. Knoblauch failed to respond to the invitation to participate voluntarily.�

Knoblauch, a four-time All-Star, played for the Minnesota Twins, Yankees and Kansas City Royals during a 12-year career that ended in 2002.

-- Bill Shaikin

Reliever Octavio Dotel and the Chicago White Sox agreed to an $11-million, two-year contract. The 34-year-old right-hander spent last season with the Kansas City Royals and Atlanta Braves, but a shoulder injury limited him to 33 appearances and 30 2/3 innings. . . . The Colorado Rockies are expected today to announce a six-year contract with shortstop Troy Tulowitzki worth about $30 million. . . . Relief pitcher Dave Borkowski and the Houston Astros agreed to an $800,000, one-year contract to avoid an arbitration hearing.