Former Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi said at Old Timers' Day he turned down an opportunity to return to the franchise as a potential coach.

"I think they kind of tested to see where I was at and I just said I wasn't ready," Giambi, 47, said, according to NJ.com's Brendan Kuty.

Giambi said the conversation didn't include an offer, but rather was something so the Yankees could examine his level of interest. He didn't say which position he may have been considered for, nor did he say who contacted him.

Kuty reports the organization didn't directly contact him to be Joe Girardi's replacement, though Aaron Boone, who received the manager job, said he believes Giambi would make for a great coach in the future should he choose to take that route.

"Jason is someone who has been through a lot of stuff in this game," said Boone, who played with Giambi for one season as Yankees in 2003.

"I'm sure if it's something he really wants to do, he'll probably have some opportunities to interview for someone."

Giambi interviewed for the Rockies job after the 2012 season, but Colorado ultimately hired Walt Weiss. He played two more years afterward, retiring in 2014. He ended his 20-year career, of which he spent seven seasons with the Yankees, with a .277 batting average, 440 home runs and 1,441 RBIs.

"He's a baseball lifer. He loves the game," former manager Lou Piniella said, according to Sporting News' Gary Phillips. "He's been around some really good managers and some really good coaches. I'm sure he's learned a lot."

Popular in the Community