TAMPA, Fla. -- Five months into his year-long suspension from baseball, Darryl Strawberry has left a drug clinic and is trying to get back into the game.

But before he can entertain thoughts of a return to the Yankees, Strawberry will be interviewed Friday to determine whether he violated probation after leaving the clinic a month early and being photographed with a woman identified as a member of a swingers' club.

	Strawberry

Joe Papy, regional director for the Florida Department of Corrections, said Thursday night the New York Yankees outfielder will be asked about a Sports Illustrated report that he has visited a South Florida swingers' club on several occasions.

"At this point in time we are still gathering information," Papy said. "We're waiting on a report from the treatment provider and we want to get Strawberry's side of the story." Papy said a report will be compiled and submitted to a judge, who will decide if the 39-year-old slugger violated probation.

As part of his probation on April 1999 charges of possessing cocaine and soliciting a prostitute, Strawberry was ordered to not frequent establishments where the main source of income is alcohol.

Trapeze II in Fort Lauderdale, which Sports Illustrated said the eight-time All-Star joined last month, reportedly is a club in which alcohol is not sold. Patrons, however, may bring their own, and Strawberry will be asked whether he did.

Strawberry wrote a letter to commissioner Bud Selig several weeks ago asking for reinstatement to baseball, a high-ranking baseball official said Thursday on the condition he not be identified. Strawberry, serving his third drug-related suspension, asked for an early end to his one-year ban, currently scheduled to run through February.

The baseball official confirmed that Strawberry left a clinic where he was being treated for his cocaine problem, and returned to his home in a gated community outside Tampa.

Strawberry told the New York Daily News that he left the Sobrenity Inc., clinic in Fort Lauderdale after 3½ months because he needs to support his wife and children and explore returning to work in baseball.

Papy said leaving the clinic early could constitute a violation of parole, but that it was too soon to speculate because authorities had not received a report from Sobrenity Inc.

"All we've heard is he said he left voluntarily," the corrections official said, adding that Strawberry has been tested for drugs three times a week since January and hasn't failed.

Strawberry's agent, Eric Grossman, did not return telephone messages from The Associated Press. However, officials of the St. Paul, Minn., Saints minor league club confirmed there have been discussions about hiring Strawberry.

The Saints are the independent minor league team Strawberry played for in 1996 when no big league club was interested in him. General manager Bill Fanning said the club was talking to Strawberry about an arrangement but nothing had been finalized.

Owner Marvin Goldklang emphasized that Strawberry would not join the Saints as a player. The minor league team also doesn't want to give the impression it is trying to enhance his chances of returning to the majors.

"Whatever we may do for Darryl Strawberry will have nothing to do with whether he plays another baseball game," Goldklang said in a telephone interview.

"I'm assuming (he wants to return to baseball). Darryl hasn't said that to me," the owner added. "At this point in his life, that's the thing he does best and wants to do. I'm assuming given the opportunity he'd like to play again. That has nothing to do with our relationship with Darryl."

Goldklang, also a Yankees limited partner, said an arrangement might be made within a week or so, although it appears the closest fans might come to seeing Strawberry play in St. Paul would be some rounds of batting practice.

"We already have spoken to a physician and a counselor who are familiar with Darryl's situation. It has been suggested to us that that would be a positive element for Darryl because that would help keep him in an environment where he does feel comfortable. That's a distinct possibility."

The Daily News reported that baseball has "serious questions" concerning Strawberry's fitness to resume his career.

On Feb. 28, Strawberry was suspended by Selig after his third violation of baseball's drug policy. The suspension came after Strawberry had tested positive for cocaine during a routine check.

After playing briefly with the Saints, Strawberry's contract was purchased by the Yankees in July 1996. Two years later, the outfielder was diagnosed with colon cancer and underwent surgery.

While still undergoing chemotherapy, Strawberry returned to baseball in March 1999. A month later, he was charged with possessing cocaine and soliciting a prostitute. Pleading no contest, Strawberry was sentenced to 18 months' probation and 100 hours of community service.

He returned to the Yankees on Sept. 1, 1999, and finished the season with a .327 batting average, three homers and six RBIs. In the postseason, he hit .333 (5-for-15) with two homers and four RBIs as the Yankees won their second straight World Series championship.

Goldklang said the Saints' interest in helping the slugger get back on his feet is personal, not a publicity stunt.

"I know there may be some skeptics out there who question why we would do this for Darryl Strawberry," he said. "I'm not claiming that we never do things in our economic interest or selfish interest. ... I think we are just motivated by caring for another human being. He's been good to us in the past and we remember our friends."