By Geoff Walter / SNY.tv

 

Perhaps it would have been more shocking if Jason Giambi had passed his substance test. That is, if the reported test even took place, since the Daily News cited unnamed sources in their story and Giambi was ordered by the Commissioner's office to keep his mouth shut about yesterday's little Q&A session. That's the trouble sometimes with exclusives. The Yankees were reportedly looking for a way, any way to void the beleaguered DH's seven-year, $120 million contract since they can't deal him outright to any other team due to his blanket no-trade clause. Tough luck for the Bombers, but right now keeping the 36-year old slugger may be a better option than trading him away.

 

The Angels were supposedly interested in Giambi, but reportedly waited until after he met with MLB officials after an interview in USA Today was published in which Giambi all but outright admitted (for a second time) to using steroids. Giambi was quoted as saying that he considers himself the most tested man in baseball, and I find that hard to believe considering he isn't in hot pursuit of Hank Aaron's home run record like Barry Bonds is.

Any trade involving Giambi is ludicrous for a number of reasons. First, he currently has a bone spur on the bottom of his left foot, requiring the use of special orthotic shoes. That's also the reason why he's been warming the bench for the past few games. Sure, the shoes have helped Giambi, but not much in terms of hitting -- his average this season is .260, and .077 in the last 10 games, with one home run coming on Monday against Boston. Giambi's career numbers have taken a nosedive after the 2001 season (.342), when he was acquired from the Athletics and put into pinstripes, and he's been prone to streaky performance at the plate. His averaged dropped all the way down to .208 in 2004 before rebounding to .271 the following year, enough to win MLB's Comeback Player of the Year award. He's never been back above .300 for a season since.

If the Yankees swung a one-for-one trade with the Angels, Casey Kotchman, Robb Quinlan, and Shea Hillenbrand -- all first basemen -- would seem to be the best match-ups. However, Angels GM Bill Stoneman has discredited reports that his team is interested in Giambi.

From a Yankees perspective, they seem to be cleaning house, getting rid of any and all players with an air of steroid suspicion about them. In addition to Giambi, Gary Sheffield was also accused of being a steroid user, and he was traded to Detroit during the offseason. The question that arises if Giambi were traded is: who would DH? The Yankees could move Bobby Abreu into the spot, but they'd have to then make Melky Cabrera a full-time outfielder, and then who would they have as a utility man? Bernie Williams is a possible solution, but I doubt very much that he's coming back unless the Yankees grovel to him as they did with Roger Clemens. The "platoon" of Doug Mientkiewicz and Josh Phelps hasn't worked out as hoped, and in any Giambi trade the Yankees would have to acquire a first baseman. Giambi also gives the Yanks power from the left side, and protects Alex Rodriguez in the lineup. Even with all the strikes against him, Giambi isn't going anywhere -- in fact, I'm positive he isn't.

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