Yankees, MLB Reacting To Jason Giambi’s Steroid Comments

Yankees May Again Look At Terminating Giambi’s Contract

The Yankees “will revisit the possibility of terminating [DH Jason] Giambi’s deal if it is determined that he used illegal drugs” after signing his seven-year, $120M deal in ’01, according to Madden & Thompson of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. This comes after Giambi told USA Today he was “wrong for doing that stuff” in last Friday’s editions. The Yankees looked into terminating Giambi’s deal in late ’04 after a report he told a grand jury that he had “used steroids and human growth hormone before signing with the Yankees and while playing for them” in ’02 and ’03. Sources said that Giambi’s contract “contains language saying it can be voided if he uses illegal substances while with the club.” But Madden & Thompson noted the MLBPA believes that provisions in the CBA “supersedes those in a player’s contract” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/20).

INTEREST FROM MLB: In N.Y., Jack Curry wrote MLB Commissioner Bud Selig “will investigate the matter and will probably ask to meet with [Giambi] for clarification.” When asked to comment Friday, Yankees GM Brian Cashman said, “I think the commissioner’s office is going to be looking into it, so at this point, I just can’t comment on it.” Giambi “was asked if he thought the comments were off the record, but he repeated that he did not want to discuss the subject” (N.Y. TIMES, 5/19). USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale writes it is “unclear when the meeting will take place and whether MLB officials want to scold Giambi, discipline him or take other action.” A source said that MLB Exec VP/Labor Relations Rob Manfred spoke with Yankees President Randy Levine on Friday, but each declined to comment. Two baseball officials indicated that MLB and the Yankees “were most angered by Giambi’s insinuation that baseball ignored its steroid problem” (USA TODAY, 5/21). In Hartford, Dom Amore wrote MLB officials on Friday “told the Yankees not to comment on the issue,” and Giambi declined to discuss the matter with reporters (HARTFORD COURANT, 5/19).

Giambi Now Likely To Draw Interest From Mitchell’s Steroid Probe

WHAT NOW? In New Jersey, Bob Klapisch wrote MLB steroid investigator George Mitchell “will surely be breathing hotly on Giambi’s neck, and it’s a near certainty the commissioner’s office will look for a way to suspend him. That’s a long shot, however” (Bergen RECORD, 5/19). In N.Y., George King wrote, “What MLB and the Yankees can do to Giambi isn’t clear. If it’s proven Giambi used steroids after the current rules went into effect [in ’05], he could be suspended and possibly have the remainder of his $120[M] contract voided by the Yankees.” Also, with the precedent of Jason Grimsley being suspended “without failing a steroid test after he admitted using performance-enhancing drugs a year ago, Giambi may have set himself up for a 50-game suspension. He also likely put himself in the middle of the [Mitchell] probe” (N.Y. POST, 5/19). But on Long Island, O’Brien & Davidoff write a source called the idea of Giambi being penalized “far-fetched” (NEWSDAY, 5/19).