Giambi Agrees to Testify

Jon Heyman of SI is reporting that Jason Giambi and MLB have agreed to a deal for Giambi to testify in front of George Mitchell's committee.

Jason Giambi has an agreement to become the first active Major Leaguer to testify before George Mitchell, baseball's steroids investigator, SI.com has learned. Giambi will meet "promptly'' with Mitchell.

The agreement, which was hammered out after two weeks of negotiating sessions between MLB and Giambi's representatives, will be announced by MLB this afternoon.

By agreeing to testify, Giambi is avoiding suspension, at least for now. Baseball investigators will want Giambi to cooperate honestly and fully, however, and the decision not to suspend Giambi could be reversed if they determine he has not done so. As part of the agreement, the Yankees will not try to void Giambi's contract and leave his fate in MLB's hands.

Giambi is expected to testify about his own usage and the "landscape'' of steroid use in baseball. However, he is not expected to tell what he knows about other players, as part of the agreement that was hammered out between MLB and lawyers for Giambi and the union. MLB still is hoping to learn some things regarding Barry Bonds since Giambi knew Bonds' trainer Greg Anderson and Giambi will not be precluded from testifying about him.