Jason Giambi agreed to meet steroids investigator George Mitchell

Slimdust

espn.com

NEW YORK -- Jason Giambi agreed Thursday to meet with baseball steroids investigator George Mitchell and apologized for his actions, becoming the first active player known to cooperate with the former Senate majority leader.

"I alone am responsible for my actions and I apologize to the commissioner, the owners and the players for any suggestion that they were responsible for my behavior," the New York Yankees star said in a statement.

The decision by Giambi came after baseball commissioner Bud Selig requested the meeting and followed long negotiations between lawyers for the players' union and Major League Baseball.

Giambi was quoted in USA Today last month as seeming to admit to steroids use several years ago -- during a period when baseball did not penalize most first-time drug offenders. Selig threatened to discipline Giambi and said he would factor cooperation with Mitchell into his decision.

"A direct conversation the commissioner impressed upon me the idea that the game of baseball would be best served by such a meeting," Giambi said. "I will continue to do what I think is right and be candid about my past history regarding steroids. I have never blamed anyone nor intended to deflect blame for my conduct."