Did Giambi save the Yankees?

[WilliamPitt]

We all know the Yankees are having payroll problems because they spent too much on crappy talent. Sure, they could balloon the payroll for 2005 to $225 million...but now there's Juicin' Giambi. If the Yankees can void his bloated contract by saying it was signed under false pretenses, they will suddenly have a shitload of money to sign pitchers, etc.

What say you? Will the Yankees dump Giambi's contract? And how much does this help them?

[sir_captain]

1. I don't think they'll be able to

He didn't admit to taking steroids in 2004 (and in fact, I'd bet he didn't) and that is the only season where there was an actual ban on steroid use in Major League Baseball. I think the Yankees will probably try, and for once, they might even be in the right, but my guess is it just won't work...

[MaineDem]

8. Guy on ESPN last night said...

2003 was the first year for a ban and Giambi could be held accountable for using during that season.

Something about keeping oneself in good physical condition.

It's just what I heard...

[sir_captain]

12. ESPN guy

was wrong. The 2004 season was the first one to have any sort of drug testing and steroid policy.

The second part is true, though. There is a standard clause in athletes' contracts specifying that they keep themselves in top condition, and I'm sure the Yankees will try to argue that Giambi didn't, but I don't think it'll work.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. What I want to know is...

To what extent was Giambi's medical condition(s) exacerbated by juice?

More than a little, I expect. Cancer and steroids? That cannot be particularly helpful.

[sir_captain]

13. He didn't have cancer

he had a benign tumor on his pituitary gland that was probably caused by taking a female medicine that was used to amplify the effect of testosterone.

In addition, his patella tendinitis was probably caused by the steroids at least in part.

[nickgutierrez]

14. That's true, but that's not all of it

He spent most of the first part of the season with an intestinal parasite.

[BeyondGeography]

3. They will try to dump him and his contract, which would help them

But not as much as the normal franchise would be helped by avoiding an $82 million commitment.

Remember, it's Yankeeland. Giambi's contract only prevents them from making a substantial (and much needed) upgrade at first base. Even with this weight around their neck, they're chasing (until yesterday) a $16 million-per-year 41 year-old pitcher, Carlos Beltran and any number of other expensive investments.

By the way, partisanship aside, it would be good for the sport if Giambi's contract were voided. How else do you change behavior if not by making the players pay the ultimate penalty?

[WilliamPitt]

4. Agreed on the last bit

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

5. I agree.

The juice is terrible stuff. I have seen the toll and it is horrid. Giambi needs to go back to A-ball for a good while to ruminate on the errors of his ways.

[tx_dem41]

9. Hands OFF Beltran...

Yankee! ;-)

[OneBlueSky]

6. won't happen, unfortunately . . .

his admitted use was before the substances were banned . . . the Players Union will fight voiding his contract, and will win . . .

what the Yankess should do in that case, imo (as a Yankee fan), is eat the contract and bench the guy for the next four years . . . sign Tino Martinez to come back and play first, re-sign John Olerud as his backup, and let Giambi dream about the Hall of Fame election that he pissed away . . .

[Mojambo]

7. Baseball contracts are amazingly tough to void.

Add to this the fact that a powerful Players Union will fight viciously hard on this issue and there is very little chance at all of this contract being voided.

Giambi and Sheffield together add up to a nightmarish PR problem for the Bronx "Bombers."

I would caution against singling the Yankees out though. I'd bet that every team in the game has a player who has juiced at some point. Many of them being marquee guys.

This is a big thing for baseball. It's not at the Black Sox scandal level, but I could easily see it getting there before it's over.

We are entering an historic time for the game. As baseball historians we should be paying attention, these times will be remembered.

[FlyByNight]

11. Tough to void contracts

Thinking (and reading on ESPN) the same thing. The MLBPA will fight tooth and nail for Giambi's contract.

I'm no Yankee fan (I'm a Red Sox fan) but I sincerely hope that Steinbrenner tries to void the contract.

Not only is Giambi a cheater, he's a liar too.

[DinahMoeHum]

10. I look at it this way - "Baron von SteinGrabber" has egg all over

his face on this one.

:evilgrin::evilgrin::evilgrin:

I've never forgiven him for letting go of Tino.

:nuke:

[jcappy]

15. Yanks will Buy-Out the Contract

This would seem just about the only scenario--best for both Yanks and Giambi---both will need to put this as much behind them as possible. And there's no way the contract is voided.

It will also make the payroll less embarassingly high. I would think that going over 200 million might bring on the "level field" critics, who are already having their day over the steroid question.

[Yavin4]

16. That's Probably What Will Happen

Giambi is a fraud. Bring on Beltran!!!

[Renew Deal]

17. I hope they can dump him.

It's really a shame what he turned out to be.