Yankees slugger Giambi has benign tumor

[DJRamFan]

July 30, 2004
SportsLine.com wire reports

NEW YORK -- New York Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi has been diagnosed with a benign tumor, but is expected to return to the team later this season after undergoing treatment.

Advertisement


The Yankees announced Friday night that Giambi was placed on the 15-day disabled list and will be treated immediately. The team, citing privacy issues, declined to divulge where the tumor is or what type of treatment Giambi will undergo.

Yankees manager Joe Torre said he didn't believe surgery would be necessary.

General manager Brian Cashman said: "I think the next few days, he'll be treated and we'll see how he's feeling. He has to get his strength back and then we'll take it from there."

Giambi, a former AL MVP, is batting only .221 with 11 home runs and 36 RBI. He's been feeling fatigued virtually all season, and was diagnosed with a parasite on June 29.


It is unclear how much time Jason Giambi will miss with a benign tumor.(Getty Images)
He tried to play through it, but began to feel increasingly weaker. Giambi underwent a battery of tests earlier this week to determine what has ailed him.

"The testing has not revealed the presence of any infectious disease," team physician Dr. Stuart Hershon said in a statement. "The Yankees expect that, with appropriate treatment, he will rejoin the team as soon as possible."

Cashman said he spoke to Giambi on Friday, and said the slugger is in good spirits.

"He's obviously happy that he knows what's going on now," Cashman said.

Cashman didn't have an immediate timetable for Giambi to return to the team.

"I don't expect him here this weekend, and we'll take it day to day," he said.

In a statement released by the team, Giambi expressed relief in finally finding out what had been making him feel so ill.

"I am relieved that they found something that is treatable and I look forward to getting well, coming back strong and helping the Yankees win," he said.



AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Copyright 2004, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved