Giambi diagnosed with benign tumor

NEW YORK (AP) Jason Giambi spent a few anxious months wondering why he felt so fatigued. The New York Yankees first baseman finally has an answer and hope for a full recovery.

Giambi was diagnosed with a benign tumor, but is expected to return to the team later this season. The Yankees announced Friday night that the slugger was placed on the 15-day disabled list and will be treated immediately.

''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,'' Giambi said in a statement.

The team, citing privacy issues, declined to divulge where the non-cancerous tumor is or what type of treatment Giambi will undergo. Yankees manager Joe Torre said he didn't believe surgery would be necessary.

''I'm just glad that the news, even though there's something going on, he can be treated and recover completely,'' Torre said after the Yankees beat Baltimore 2-1.

The team is optimistic that Giambi will return before the end of the regular season.

''From a baseball standpoint, he'll be back playing sooner rather than later,'' general manager Brian Cashman said. ''By all indications, he'll be back with us some time this year.''

Giambi, a former AL MVP, is batting only .221 with 11 home runs and 36 RBIs. He's felt fatigued virtually all season and tried to play through it. He hasn't been in a game since last Friday night at Boston.

''He went out there and played and did it basically on courage because he didn't have anything in the tank,'' said Torre, who underwent surgery for prostate cancer at the start of the 1999 season.

Giambi was diagnosed with a parasite on June 29. On Friday, the team would not address whether that initial diagnosis was correct. Cashman said the tumor is what caused the increasing fatigue and weakness Giambi experienced.

''As far as we're concerned, we're dealing with this issue now,'' team physician Dr. Stuart Hershon said.

Giambi underwent a battery of tests at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center earlier this week to determine what ailed him.

''The testing has not revealed the presence of any infectious disease,'' Hershon said. ''The Yankees expect that, with appropriate treatment, he will rejoin the team as soon as possible.''

On Thursday, Cashman said he expected Giambi would be at the ballpark.

Later that day, Cashman spoke to the slugger and they agreed Giambi should stay home and rest.

Cashman said he talked to Giambi again Friday, and said he's 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. ''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.''

Pitcher Kevin Brown was sidelined since June 9 by an intestinal parasite, along with a lower back spasm. He returned Friday, allowing one run and four hits in 6 1-3 innings in the win, but said he's still recovering. Brown said the parasite caused him to lose 15 pounds, and feels for what Giambi is going through.

''He's had a tough road to travel because he found out what they thought was wrong and still tried to play,'' Brown said. ''Any time you can get an answer and there's an end in sight, it's a good thing.''

The Yankees will recall outfielder Bubba Crosby from Triple-A Columbus to take Giambi's spot on the roster. Crosby hit .194 with two homers and seven RBIs in 36 at-bats with the Yankees earlier this season.

Cashman said it was unlikely that the Yankees would look to make a late trade for a first baseman to platoon with Tony Clark before Saturday's deadline because ''Jason will be back soon.''

''If the deadline ended today, we wouldn't be doing anything,'' Cashman said.