Union, lawyers in Giambi talks

Lawyers for the baseball players' union and the commissioner's office are discussing ways to bring about a meeting between Jason Giambi and steroids investigator George Mitchell.

The talks were expected to extend into the weekend and possibly next week, a person familiar with negotiations said Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the discussions.

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig said June 6 that he wanted Giambi to meet with Mitchell within two weeks and to cooperate fully with the steroids investigation. Selig threatened to discipline the New York Yankees designated hitter following published remarks by Giambi that seemed to be an admission of steroids use. Selig said he would take Giambi's cooperation with Mitchell into account in determining discipline.

Any suspension or fine would be challenged by the players' association, which says Selig doesn't have "just cause" under baseball's labor contract to penalize Giambi. Based on precedent, there is a reasonable likelihood an arbitrator would overturn any discipline.

Youkilis joins Ortiz on player's All-Star ballot: Both David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis will appear on the All-Star ballot used by players to choose the reserves in next month's game.

Ortiz is leading the fan voting at first base even though he plays almost exclusively at designated hitter, which is not being used for the July 10 game in San Francisco. Youkilis, the regular Red Sox first baseman, is not on the fan ballot even though he's fifth in the AL in batting.

With Ortiz likely to be voted in by fans, the Red Sox asked Major League Baseball on Wednesday to substitute Youkilis for Ortiz on the ballot distributed to players when they vote for their peers. The team was told on Thursday that the ballot traditionally offers two options for AL teams when a designated hitter is also listed at a position.

Arizona sends down Callaspo: The Arizona Diamondbacks sent infielder Alberto Callaspo to the minors and recalled infielder Augie Ojeda from Triple-A Tucson.

Callaspo was optioned to Tucson after Arizona's 7-1 loss to the New York Yankees. He got into the game as a pinch runner when Orlando Hudson jammed his left ankle, stayed in to play second base and went 0 for 1.

Garcia sidelined indefinitely: Freddy Garcia isn't having season-ending surgery just yet.

The two-time All-Star right-hander is out indefinitely with a shoulder injury, and it's uncertain whether he'll pitch again for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Garcia was examined by renowned surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., on Wednesday for a second opinion after an MRI exam on Monday showed fraying in his rotator cuff and a problem in the labrum.

The 31-year-old Garcia was hoping to avoid surgery. For now, he's going to rest.