Slugger agrees to meet with steroids investigator

	Jason Giambi's representatives and MLB had been negotiating for about two weeks. Robert Beck/SI
	Statement from Jason Giambi "Today, I have agreed to Commissioner Selig's request that I meet with Senator George Mitchell. In a direct conversation the Commissioner impressed upon me the idea that the game of baseball would be best served by such a meeting. I will continue to do what I think is right and be candid about my past history regarding steroids. I have never blamed anyone nor intended to deflect blame for my conduct. I alone am responsible for my actions and I apologize to the Commissioner, the owners and the players for any suggestion that they were responsible for my behavior. "I've come to this decision for a number of reasons. I did not want to put my family through a lengthy legal challenge in support of my position. In addition, the uncertainty of my playing status could detract from the efforts of our team to win the American League East. My focus at this time needs to be on rehabbing my injury, getting back on the field, and contributing to the goals of my team. To be embroiled in a legal battle could undermine all of this and I would never put my family, my teammates, or the Yankees in that position." "Accordingly, I have agreed to this meeting. As I have always done, I will address my own personal history regarding steroids. I will not discuss in any fashion any other individual. My hope is that this meeting will serve as a positive step, as all parties involved seek the best approach in dealing with the issue of 'drugs in sport.' That has always been the intent behind all of the comments I have made on the subject and it remains so to this day."

By Jon Heyman, SI.com

Jason Giambi's agreement to talk to baseball's steroids investigator George Mitchell allows him to avoid talking specifically about any other players' steroid usage, but Major League Baseball officials are still holding out hope they may learn something more about Barry Bonds' possible involvement through Giambi's testimony, according to people familiar with the situation.

Giambi will be required through the agreement, finalized Thursday, to speak about his own involvement and the general "landscape" of steroid usage. But MLB officials aren't ruling out the possibility they may ascertain something useful about Bonds through Giambi, who like Bonds had an association not only with BALCO but also with Bonds' former trainer Greg Anderson.

Anderson, who previously served three months for steroid distribution and money laundering, is currently imprisoned for refusing to testify before a federal grand jury empanelled to determine whether Bonds perjured himself when he denied taking steroids to the grand jury.

The federal government is focusing on Bonds, and it is reasonable to believe MLB has particular interest in Bonds, as well, in that he is on the precipice of breaking baseball's all-time home run record.

Giambi issued a statement Thursday through his agent Arn Tellem and the players union, in which he stressed that he will not testify about other players to Mitchell. "As I have always done, I will address my own personal history regarding steroids," Giambi said in his statement. "I will not discuss in any fashion any other individual."

Giambi's agreement means he will become the first active major leaguer to testify before Mitchell. "Senator Mitchell has assured me that Mr. Giambi's interview will be scheduled promptly," commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement. "Once the interview process has concluded, I will take Mr. Giambi's level of cooperation into account in determining appropriate further action."

The deal, which was hammered out after two weeks of negotiating sessions between MLB and Giambi's representatives, will enable Giambi to avoid suspension, at least for now. Baseball investigators will want Giambi to cooperate honestly and fully, however, and as Selig said in his statement, he has made no guarantees to Giambi. As part of the agreement, the Yankees have agreed not try to void Giambi's contract and will instead leave his fate in MLB's hands.

Giambi became the focus of MLB's interest after he was quoted last month by USA Today as seeming to admit to steroids use several years ago when he said, "I was wrong for doing that stuff," in a story about steroids.