FT. LAUDERDALE – Yesterday morning, before he was served with a subpoena, Orioles slugger Rafael Palmeiro said he might contact his old friend, President Bush, to help him get out of appearing before Congress next week.

At first, Palmeiro joked about contacting Bush, who owned the Rangers during Palmeiro’s first stint in Texas from 1989-93. But when asked a few minutes later about it, he said, “It’s an option.”

Palmeiro said he and Bush worked out together in Texas and had a good relationship. Palmeiro, who was accused of using steroids by former teammate Jose Canseco, said he could not say much about the March 17 hearing.

“I’m going to face it however I have to face it,” he said “I’ll deal with it. That’s everything I have to say at this point.”

He did express regret that Canseco is getting more publicity for his book, “Juiced,” because of the House Committee on Government Reform’s hearing.

“He’s winning the battle,” Palmeiro said. “Here’s a guy who is promoting steroid use and is going to be able to do it all the way up to Congress. He’s getting what he wanted. They’re falling for it.”

Palmeiro is one of seven current and former players who were subpoenaed yesterday.

One player who was not called on by Congress was Barry Bonds. The Giants slugger has been linked to the BALCO case and has been dogged by rumors of steroid use for the past five years. Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.), the committee’s chairman, addressed the omission of Bonds on ESPN’s “Cold Pizza” yesterday.

“He has said very little on this issue and what he’s said has been conflicting,” Davis said. “The list is dynamic. It could change, but at this point, we didn’t see any reason that Barry Bonds has to come forward . . . We haven’t ruled that out . . . but if you bring Bonds up, he is going to be the whole show. We’re not trying to spotlight just one player.”