Giambi mulling Indians' non-playing role offer

CLEVELAND -- The Indians have made it known to veteran Jason Giambi that the club is willing to offer him a role within the organization, but the conversation between the two sides has not progressed beyond that point.

Since late October, Cleveland has maintained that it has interest in keeping the 43-year-old Giambi in the fold in a non-playing capacity. That would likely mean either serving as an advisor to the front office or working as an instructor or coach in the Minor Leagues.

"Nothing really has changed with Jason," general manager Chris Antonetti wrote in an email. "[Manager Terry Francona] and I have both stayed in touch with 'G' and told him that we'd love to keep him in the organization in some capacity. We haven't gotten more specific than that at this point."

During a question-and-answer session with fans at the team's Tribe Fest event on Jan. 24, Francona indicated that Giambi is weighing whether to take a year off from baseball before exploring what job opportunities might become available. Giambi, who lives in Las Vegas with his wife and two young children, has remained silent on the issue publicly.

Prior to signing with the Indians for the 2013 season, Giambi was interviewed as a managerial candidate by the Rockies. In his two years with Cleveland as a player, he provided a strong clubhouse presence and leadership for the relatively young ballclub.

In parts of 20 seasons, Giambi has posted a .277/.399/.516 slash line to go along with 440 home runs, 405 doubles, 1,227 runs scored and 1,366 walks in 2,260 games with the A's, Yankees, Rockies and Indians. He is a five-time All-Star, finishing in the top five in voting for the American League Most Valuable Player Award three times and winning the honor with Oakland in 2000.

Over the past two seasons with the Tribe, which utilized Giambi as a designated hitter and pinch-hitter, he hit .171 with 11 home runs and 36 RBIs in 97 games (246 at-bats). Last year, Giambi appeared in only 26 games due to three stints on the disabled list with a variety of health woes.