NEW YORK -- The Yankees' courtship of top free agent Jason Giambi could last less than two weeks. Team executives spoke Tuesday with the slugger's agent, and signs point to George Steinbrenner and Co. acting quickly to try and sign the A's slugger within the next week.

	10 most valuable free agents
	A consensus poll of ESPN's Peter Gammons, ESPN The Magazine's Tim Kurkjian and ESPN.com's Jayson Stark, Rob Neyer, Bob Klapisch, Sean McAdam and Phil Rogers of the top free agents (with first-place votes, total points)
	1. Jason Giambi (5)	68
	2. Barry Bonds (2)	65
	3. Juan Gonzalez	45.5
	4. Chan Ho Park	42
	5. Moises Alou	36
	6. Bret Boone	35
	7. John Smoltz	30
	8. Johnny Damon	19
	9. J. Isringhausen	18.5
	10. Jason Schmidt	11

Much as they did last year with Mike Mussina, the Yankees aren't going to waste any time, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reported. Giambi also is believed to want to get negotiations wrapped up as quickly as possible.

The New York Post reported Thursday that after Steinbrenner meets with Yankees officials Monday, Giambi is expected to receive an official offer of seven years for $119 million.

According to one baseball official, the Yankees are mulling an offer to Giambi of six or seven years for less than the $18.9-million average annual value of Derek Jeter's contract, Stark reported.

"They are going to talk through the weekend (with agent Arn Tellem) although nothing is expected to happen until next week," a source close to the situation told The Post before Thanksgiving.

Yankees manager Joe Torre, Jeter and Mussina are also expected to phone Giambi, The Post reported.

Tellum confirmed that he spoke with the Yankees but didn't identify the other clubs he spoke with. The St. Louis Cardinals also are expected to show interest.

Giambi, last year's American League Most Valuable Player, narrowly missed repeating Tuesday, finishing just behind Seattle outfielder Ichiro Suzuki.

Giambi, 30, hit .342 with 38 homers and 120 RBI last season for the Oakland Athletics, and the Yankees think his bat will help cure their offense, which sputtered at times during the season and came to a near stop during the World Series loss to Arizona.

After the A's were eliminated by the Yankees in the first round of the playoffs, the team reversed and said it was willing to give Giambi the no-trade clause.

In an interview published Tuesday in the San Francisco Chronicle, Giambi said it was possible he would remain with the A's.

"Someone would definitely have to come in and knock my socks off, because of the things I've done in the Bay Area and the fact that my family is close," he was quoted as saying. "It would have to be a pretty great situation."

New York, which doesn't appear interested in re-signing first baseman Tino Martinez, hopes to go with a combination of Giambi and rookie Nick Johnson at first base and designated hitter.

"I don't ever want to be a DH," Giambi was quoted as saying. "Maybe later in my career, or if I was injured, but I enjoy being part of the game. And I don't think many teams will ask me to DH, not for that kind of money."

Tellem, based in the Los Angeles area, said he was not inclined to go on a city-to-city tour with Giambi to meet with suitors.

"I'm not in the mood to travel now unless it's really needed," he said.

The other top free agents, pitcher Chan Ho Park and outfielder Barry Bonds, are represented by Scott Boras, who usually likes to negotiate his big contracts at the winter meetings. They are scheduled to take place in Boston from Dec. 9-13.