Altered Hearing Discussed

Jason Giambi’s status as a witness in the federal investigation of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative could excuse him from testifying in Thursday’s Congressional hearing concerning steroids in baseball.

One of seven current or former players subpoenaed by the House Government Reform Committee, Giambi, along with several other major league players, appeared before a federal grand jury in that case.

Of those who testified in the BALCO case, including Barry Bonds and Gary Sheffield, only Giambi has been called before the committee, however, and baseball lawyer Stanley Brand has argued that further public testimony by Giambi would be detrimental to that criminal investigation. The house committee is believed to be reconsidering having Giambi appear.

Lawyers for Major League Baseball and the House committee spoke Friday and planned to continue discussions through the weekend, with baseball negotiating to have all seven players excused from Thursday’s hearing.

Brand has offered to have baseball executives Rob Manfred and Sandy Alderson, along with union chief Don Fehr, testify, and promised to fight the subpoenas issued to the players. Committee Chairman Tom Davis (R-Va.) and ranking member Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles) threatened to cite those who did not attend with contempt of Congress, which could ultimately bring penalties of a year in prison and a $1,000 fine.

A source said the sides could negotiate a deal in which Congress would withdraw the subpoenas to the players in exchange for subtle changes in baseball’s existing drug policy or other allowances, such as future support for standardized drug testing in all U.S. professional and amateur sports.

As of Friday, however, the committee was preparing to hold Thursday’s hearing and expecting the 11 subpoenas to be honored.

-- Tim Brown

*

Pitcher Curt Schilling of the Boston Red Sox plans to attend next week’s hearings, becoming the first current player to agree to testify before the panel.

“I’m still real confused as to why I was put in this group and why there are other players that aren’t in this group,” Schilling said.

*

Roy Oswalt was named the Houston Astros’ opening-day starter for the third straight year. The right-hander will start when the Astros open the season at home against the St. Louis Cardinals on April 5.

*

Seattle Mariner closer Eddie Guardado could be sidelined for up to three weeks after straining his right hamstring.

*

Associated Press contributed to this report.