BASEBALL ROUNDUP

Don’t fit Jason Giambi for pinstripes yet.

Despite an ESPN report that the free-agent first baseman had signed a seven-year, $128-million contract, the Yankees were adamant that no agreement had been reached on either the length of a possible deal or the money.

“The Yankees have not reached an agreement with Jason Giambi, in principle or otherwise,” Yankee spokesman Rick Cerrone said. “I don’t know how we can say it any more clearly than that.”

Yankee owner George Steinbrenner, attending an NHL game in his hometown of Tampa, Fla., said he had no comment on the negotiations for Giambi.

The Yankees are intent on signing Giambi, who was the AL MVP in 2000 and was runner-up this season. Giambi hit .342 with 38 home runs and 120 RBIs for Oakland this year.

Manager Joe Torre, Hall of Famer Yogi Berra, pitcher Mike Mussina and New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani have all lobbied Giambi, trying to lure him to the Yankees.

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Free agent Mark McLemore agreed to a two-year contract worth about $6 million to remain with the Seattle Mariners. McLemore, 37, played six positions this season--left field, third base, shortstop, second base, center field and right field--helping the Mariners to an AL-record 116 wins. ... Catcher Paul Bako signed a one-year, $750,000 contract to stay with the Atlanta Braves. The left-handed hitting Bako, who was eligible for arbitration, batted .212 with two home runs last season.