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Dwight Gooden insists he's 'healthy' as Yanks offer to pay for treatment

MLB, New York Yankees, New York Mets

Former major league pitcher Dwight Gooden insisted Tuesday that he is "fine" and "healthy" despite former teammate Darryl Strawberry's comments to the New York Daily News earlier this week that Gooden is a "complete junkie-addict." 

"[I] haven't done anything wrong, haven't broken the law or anything like that," Gooden said during a Facebook Live chat prior to a Steiner Sports autograph function in New York.

Gooden was a no-show on Thursday for a joint public appearance with Strawberry, who said he believes Gooden has relapsed into the drug use that derailed his career.

Gooden wasn't specifically asked about Strawberry's comments on Tuesday, but did speak about the toll his mother's failing health and eventual death in July has had on him, saying he needed treatment and medication to deal with depression in the past couple of months.

"I wasn't healthy; there were ups and downs and [I had] massive depression because I knew my mom was at the end," Gooden said. "Once I got through that and got on the medicine, started talking with people who had some of the same experiences, things got better. Things are going a lot better right now."

The New York Yankees, having seen Strawberry's comments to the Daily News, have reached out and offered to assist with any treatment the 51-year-old Gooden might need. 

"A lot of individuals have reached out to me, too, but for the Yankees to show that type of support to Doc, I'm very grateful to them for that," Strawberry told the Daily News.

Ron Dock, Gooden's former drug counselor, also told the Daily News that the Yankees reached out in an effort to help Gooden, who played for the Yankees and New York Mets during his 16-season career.

"They said they're willing to pay for Dwight's treatment, which is a huge gesture on their behalf," Dock told the Daily News. "They've always tried to do right by Dwight, going back to George Steinbrenner when he gave him a chance to play again."

The Yankees confirmed Tuesday that they've reached out through others to offer any necessary services or assistance.

Gooden told the Daily News earlier Tuesday that he wasn't using drugs again and "there's a lot more to the story than you think."

Strawberry, who along with Gooden was the subject of ESPN's 30 for 30 documentary "Doc & Darryl," appeared on ESPN's Outside the Lines on Tuesday and remained steadfast in his belief that Gooden is again using drugs and said he was aware of it dating back to the documentary.

"We did a 30 for 30 and already knew there he was using," Strawberry told OTL. "We covered it up and that and we didn't really open ... My thing is that I just want him to get healthy. He doesn't have to go to my treatment centers. I'm not looking for publicity. Just get help. Let someone help you.

"I let people help me, and I think that's what a lot of times other people that are not addicts don't understand addictions. ... You've never been in the shoes of an addict and know what an addict is struggling with and how deep the darkness is of this life. And when you look at the paper today and the Daily News of him on the cover, look at it for yourself and see where he's at. He's 51 years old, man. This guy was a phenomenal pitcher. Yeah, that's over with. But he's a drug addict right now, and he needs help."

ESPN Staff Writer Andrew Marchand contributed to this report.

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