Giambi, Rockies finalize 1-year deal

DENVER (AP)

Todd Helton's wish for the upcoming season is to make it through the grind with a little bit more left in his tank come October. Jason Giambi's return to Denver should help him accomplish that goal.

Giambi's $1.75 million, one-year contact with the Colorado Rockies was finalized Thursday. a deal that allows Giambi to spell Helton at first base and serve as a pinch hitter.

``Last year was probably the first year I really felt tired at the end of the season,'' Helton said recently. ``I'd like to have something left at the end of the season so I can maybe hit a home run. ... Some of this is my fault. I'll take care of myself a little bit better and work a little bit harder so I can be ready at the end of the year.''

Giambi's presence should make that a whole lot easier.

He hit .292 with two homers and 11 RBIs in 19 games for the Rockies last September, when he had two game-winning hits and helped Colorado win the NL wild card.

He was a huge hit in the clubhouse, mentoring young players and veterans.

General manager Dan O'Dowd said he gained a fuller appreciation for Giambi's clubhouse contributions during meetings with his staff, manager Jim Tracy and his coaches last week.

``It became very clear to me how much of an integral part he was in leadership and accountability and the standards of what we're trying to become here,'' O'Dowd said. ``I think that was probably first and foremost in the decision to bring him back.

``And then, two, we think he can be a very, very productive player in the role that he will be used in, which is to complement Todd and to get a lot of big hits for us when called upon to do that,'' O'Dowd said. ``And then with interleague play, we're adding a legitimate bat into the middle of our lineup.''

The 39-year-old is a 15-year major league veteran originally drafted by Oakland in 1992. He was voted AL MVP in 2000 while with the Athletics, then signed a $120 million, seven-year contract with the New York Yankees.

He returned to Oakland last season, getting a $5.25 million, one-year deal. The Athletics released him on Aug. 7 and he signed with the Rockies 2 1/2 weeks later.

He was quickly embraced by his teammates in Denver and the feeling was mutual.

``It happened almost instantaneously, which really doesn't happen very often in any field of work,'' O'Dowd said. ``He clicked immediately. Quite honestly, it was an eye-opener to me to get a feeling from the manager and staff and all the support people, everybody else around the club, and the impact they felt he had day in and day out last year. I don't think I even realized that.''

Giambi said after the playoffs last fall that he'd love to return if he couldn't find a DH job back in the AL.

``In talking to him, I think he realizes that this is a great fit for him,'' O'Dowd said. ``And I think he's very excited about coming back because he feels like he can really make a difference on our club - again, in ways that don't necessarily get measured just in statistics alone, simply in watching a ball game.''

O'Dowd said Giambi's return doesn't mean the Rockies will ditch their plan to try right fielder Brad Hawpe some at first base, however.

``That's not going to be an experiment we abandon,'' O'Dowd said. ``As much depth and versatility that we can create with our 25-man roster, we're going to do that in the spring. So, Brad will be looked at in the spring at first base, too. We'll see if he's capable of doing it, what his comfort level is, all those things. But again, that's what spring training is for.''

Colorado also agreed on Thursday to minor league contracts with left-hander Jimmy Gobble and right-hander Justin Speier. They will go to spring training with the big league team.