Baseball Guru
07-27-2001, 05:29 PM
by RICK GANO
AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO (AP) -- Fred McGriff is joining the Chicago Cubs, after all.
McGriff, who scrapped a trade to Chicago earlier this month by invoking his no-trade clause, was dealt from last-place Tampa Bay to the first-place Cubs on Friday for pitcher Manny Aybar and a player to be named.
McGriff, with 436 career homers, is to join the Cubs on Sunday when they finish a four-game series against St. Louis.
The Devil Rays, the team with the worst record in baseball, and the Cubs reached a tentative deal July 8 that would have sent McGriff to Chicago for two prospects.
But McGriff, a Tampa native who has two small children, decided used his no-trade clause and decided to stay put.
Team president and general manager Andy MacPhail said the Cubs gave McGriff the option to leave after this season or to return in 2002. A $6.75 million team option for 2002, which called for a $500,000 buyout if declined, was changed to a player option.
If McGriff stays with the Cubs for next season, Tampa Bay will pay $1 million to the Cubs toward McGriff's salary.
In addition, a mutual option for 2003 was added to the contract.
''I think time is what finally changed his mind. It just took him a while to come to grips that this was the best thing for him,'' MacPhail said. ''It was never an issue about selling the Cubs. They were very comfortable with the Cubs. It was an issue about leaving home and family.''
The Cubs had scored two or fewer runs 33 time this season before Friday's game and their offense -- with the exception of Sammy Sosa -- has been lacking punch, especially from the left side.
Now to protect Sosa they have McGriff, a five-time All-Star who has 1,359 RBIs over his 16-year major league career. The 37-year-old McGriff has a .287 career batting average.
He's hitting .318 this season with 19 homers and 61 RBIs for the Devil Rays, who have been dumping salaries all season.
MacPhail said there would be no resentment in the Cubs clubhouse because of the lengthy time McGriff took to make a decision.
''They want to win games and are confident Fred can help them,'' he said.
Devils Rays general manager Chuck LaMar said dealing McGriff was the latest step in the club's desire to get younger and save money.
''This organization has to get back to building with young players and at the same time lowering payroll,'' he said. ''This trade, and trades like this one, give our young players a chance to establish themselves as major leaguers and reduces our payroll.''
AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO (AP) -- Fred McGriff is joining the Chicago Cubs, after all.
McGriff, who scrapped a trade to Chicago earlier this month by invoking his no-trade clause, was dealt from last-place Tampa Bay to the first-place Cubs on Friday for pitcher Manny Aybar and a player to be named.
McGriff, with 436 career homers, is to join the Cubs on Sunday when they finish a four-game series against St. Louis.
The Devil Rays, the team with the worst record in baseball, and the Cubs reached a tentative deal July 8 that would have sent McGriff to Chicago for two prospects.
But McGriff, a Tampa native who has two small children, decided used his no-trade clause and decided to stay put.
Team president and general manager Andy MacPhail said the Cubs gave McGriff the option to leave after this season or to return in 2002. A $6.75 million team option for 2002, which called for a $500,000 buyout if declined, was changed to a player option.
If McGriff stays with the Cubs for next season, Tampa Bay will pay $1 million to the Cubs toward McGriff's salary.
In addition, a mutual option for 2003 was added to the contract.
''I think time is what finally changed his mind. It just took him a while to come to grips that this was the best thing for him,'' MacPhail said. ''It was never an issue about selling the Cubs. They were very comfortable with the Cubs. It was an issue about leaving home and family.''
The Cubs had scored two or fewer runs 33 time this season before Friday's game and their offense -- with the exception of Sammy Sosa -- has been lacking punch, especially from the left side.
Now to protect Sosa they have McGriff, a five-time All-Star who has 1,359 RBIs over his 16-year major league career. The 37-year-old McGriff has a .287 career batting average.
He's hitting .318 this season with 19 homers and 61 RBIs for the Devil Rays, who have been dumping salaries all season.
MacPhail said there would be no resentment in the Cubs clubhouse because of the lengthy time McGriff took to make a decision.
''They want to win games and are confident Fred can help them,'' he said.
Devils Rays general manager Chuck LaMar said dealing McGriff was the latest step in the club's desire to get younger and save money.
''This organization has to get back to building with young players and at the same time lowering payroll,'' he said. ''This trade, and trades like this one, give our young players a chance to establish themselves as major leaguers and reduces our payroll.''