Giambi contract likely to be settled with cash
It seems pretty clear at this point that Jason Giambi will not be allowed back in pin stripes next year. His admission of steroids use is being used by the team to try and get out from under the bad contract they signed with him after his MVP season in Oakland.
When a team signs a long-term deal with a player, there is obviously risk involved. With Giambi's poor health and lack of productivity last year, the Yanks suddenly realized they didn't look forward to owing Giambi some $80 million over the next few years. The ballooning numbers in the end of the deal might prevent the Yanks from signing every elite free agent each winter. (gasp)
So, the Yanks conveniently decide to use the steroid issue to their advantage.
The problem of course is how can they do this when they have another steroid user on the team (Sheff). Also, how do we know there aren't other steroid users on the team? Legally, it would be hard to go before a judge and say "Hey this Giambi guy took steroids so we want him off the team and his contract voided" while at the same time showing Gary Sheffield on the lineup card. Any judge in the country would listen very carefully to Giambi's lawyer who would be only too happy to point out the hypocrisy. What it really boils down to is Sheffield was good last year, and Giambi wasn't, so that is why the Yanks want to get rid of him. Do we hear anything about Bonds contract being voided by the Giants?
No we don't.
Does any Yankee exec want to get called to the stand to testify they had NO IDEA Giambi might have taken steroids before they signed him?
The hypocrisy between allowing a player to snort cocaine all he wants, versus a player taking a substance to make him perform better on the field (oh my!) is so breathtakingly clear I'll just jump over this hurdle and move on.
If you try to claim that Sheff and Bonds are allowed to keep their contracts because they say they UNKNOWINGLY took steroids, that is a pretty weak argument. Basically Giambi is punished because he told the truth, while the Gary/Barry twins get plaques from the "Best Lies of '04" club.
Then again, we all know what happened to Aaron Boone. He tells the Yanks the truth, and he gets cut regardless. It seems like the best thing to do with Yankee management is lie like crazy, because loyalty is really all about numbers. You can be a womanizer, a frequent drug abuser etc... but just make sure you have a good ERA or slugging % and all will be forgiven.
The Yanks have a real problem on their hands. They really want to get rid of Giambi, but have the players union, Giambi's lawyers and the presence of Gary Sheffield standing in their way. Look for a cash settlement to be the most likely scenario. I'm guessing something along the lines of $35-$40 million gets this done. Giambi gets to seek a fresh start with another club, and the Yanks get to sign Beltran, Delgado and who ever else allows NY fans to forget about the Red Sox for a bit.
Will the steroid scandal hurt or help the M's?
That is still to be determined...
It seems pretty clear at this point that Jason Giambi will not be allowed back in pin stripes next year. His admission of steroids use is being used by the team to try and get out from under the bad contract they signed with him after his MVP season in Oakland.
When a team signs a long-term deal with a player, there is obviously risk involved. With Giambi's poor health and lack of productivity last year, the Yanks suddenly realized they didn't look forward to owing Giambi some $80 million over the next few years. The ballooning numbers in the end of the deal might prevent the Yanks from signing every elite free agent each winter. (gasp)
So, the Yanks conveniently decide to use the steroid issue to their advantage.
The problem of course is how can they do this when they have another steroid user on the team (Sheff). Also, how do we know there aren't other steroid users on the team? Legally, it would be hard to go before a judge and say "Hey this Giambi guy took steroids so we want him off the team and his contract voided" while at the same time showing Gary Sheffield on the lineup card. Any judge in the country would listen very carefully to Giambi's lawyer who would be only too happy to point out the hypocrisy. What it really boils down to is Sheffield was good last year, and Giambi wasn't, so that is why the Yanks want to get rid of him. Do we hear anything about Bonds contract being voided by the Giants?
No we don't.
Does any Yankee exec want to get called to the stand to testify they had NO IDEA Giambi might have taken steroids before they signed him?
The hypocrisy between allowing a player to snort cocaine all he wants, versus a player taking a substance to make him perform better on the field (oh my!) is so breathtakingly clear I'll just jump over this hurdle and move on.
If you try to claim that Sheff and Bonds are allowed to keep their contracts because they say they UNKNOWINGLY took steroids, that is a pretty weak argument. Basically Giambi is punished because he told the truth, while the Gary/Barry twins get plaques from the "Best Lies of '04" club.
Then again, we all know what happened to Aaron Boone. He tells the Yanks the truth, and he gets cut regardless. It seems like the best thing to do with Yankee management is lie like crazy, because loyalty is really all about numbers. You can be a womanizer, a frequent drug abuser etc... but just make sure you have a good ERA or slugging % and all will be forgiven.
The Yanks have a real problem on their hands. They really want to get rid of Giambi, but have the players union, Giambi's lawyers and the presence of Gary Sheffield standing in their way. Look for a cash settlement to be the most likely scenario. I'm guessing something along the lines of $35-$40 million gets this done. Giambi gets to seek a fresh start with another club, and the Yanks get to sign Beltran, Delgado and who ever else allows NY fans to forget about the Red Sox for a bit.
Will the steroid scandal hurt or help the M's?
That is still to be determined...
posted by Tom at
1:46 PM
