quote:

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McGriff spurns Cubs, invokes no-trade clause
NANCY ARMOUR of The Associated Press
Published: Jul 16, 2001

CHICAGO - Fred McGriff is staying with Tampa Bay. At least for now.

McGriff invoked his no- trade clause Monday, scrapping a trade that would have sent him to the Chicago Cubs. But the first baseman hasn't ruled out being traded before the July 31 deadline - possibly even still to the Cubs, Devil Rays general manager Chuck LaMar said.

"It's a major decision, and he just did not feel completely ready to make a decision to move as of today," LaMar said on a conference call. "As a week or two goes on, he may become more comfortable with idea of leaving his family and leaving Tampa Bay and going to play somewhere else."

McGriff was with the Devil Rays in Atlanta and not immediately available for comment. His agent, Jim Krivacs, was traveling and could not immediately be reached by The Associated Press.

Cubs president and general manager Andy MacPhail was to address the media before the Cubs' night game against the Kansas City Royals.

The Devil Rays, the worst team in baseball, had reached a deal with the NL Central-leading Cubs last week that would have sent McGriff to Chicago for two prospects. The Cubs also were expected to pick up a $6.75 million option for next season.

But McGriff, a Tampa native who has two small children, had to approve the deal because of a no-trade clause in his contract.

"There's a chance he will be traded before the trade deadline," LaMar said. "There's still a chance he would be open to the idea of a trade to the Chicago Cubs. ... He just was not ready to do it today at 12 o'clock."

LaMar said he hasn't talked to McGriff, so he doesn't know for sure why McGriff said no. But McGriff has said repeatedly over the past five days that he's happy in Tampa and likes being close to his family.

He's also enjoying one of his most productive seasons, hitting .329 with 18 homers and 59 RBIs. He homered twice Sunday and drove in four runs against the Braves.

"This goes on in baseball all the time where a player has a no-trade ... and they decline that deal," LaMar said. "It's just the first time our club has been in this position."

That and the fact the deal seemed like such a no-brainer. With one word, McGriff could have gone from a team that was 29-63 before Monday's game in Atlanta to a pennant race.

But he's said all along he likes being close to his family.

"I've got a nice little family," he said Sunday. "I'm very happy."

The deal was also a good one for both teams. Though the Cubs began Monday with the NL's best record, their offense has been streaky with Rondell White, Todd Hundley and Bill Mueller hurt. McGriff, one of only two players to hit 200 homers in both the AL and NL, would give the lineup some added pop.

It also would give added protection to Sammy Sosa, who has already drawn a career-high 22 intentional walks this season.

The Devil Rays, meanwhile, are trying to shed their high-priced veterans for prospects. Already this season they've have released Vinny Castilla ($7 million) and Gerald Williams ($3 million).

Among active Tampa Bay players, McGriff has the second-highest salary, earning $6.5 million this year. Greg Vaughn makes $8.25 million.

"On one hand, as a general manager, you're honored to have Fred McGriff on your club. ... On the flipside of it, we have a situation where we need to move payroll," LaMar said. "It truly is a Catch- 22. And that's not Fred's fault."

---

Sorry, Cubbies....

Boy, this must be a strange situation. They want to unload him, he's willing to ride the ship down. Good for him, to want to stay with his family and his fans.

Wouldn't it be odd if the Rays ended up moving out from underneath him?


-New Yorker
Did you really think that Hoboken was the birthplace of Base Ball?

No comment.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Chicago Cubs -- Back-to-back World Series Champions 1907-1908
EAMUS CATULI -- AC125693

I said "sorry."


-New Yorker
Did you really think that Hoboken was the birthplace of Base Ball?

And I think I might need to say it again soon.

From this morning's New York Post:

quote:

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YANKS SNIFFING OUT
DEAL FOR CRIME DOG

By GEORGE KING

July 19, 2001 -- EXCLUSIVE

DETROIT - Not sure that David Justice's return from the DL will add all the muscle needed to improve their lineup or how long Justice can hold up, the Yankees are planning to make a push for Fred McGriff, The Post has learned.

According to several industry sources, the Yankees have talked internally about acquiring the veteran left-handed-hitting first baseman to use him as their DH and will hold formal talks with Devil Rays GM Chuck LaMar shortly with the Aug. 1 waiver trade deadline approaching.

A high-ranking Yankee source confirmed those plans yesterday. And the source believes there are factors about playing for the Yankees that appeal to McGriff, who recently nixed a trade to the Cubs.

McGriff's main reason for vetoing the Cubs deal that would have sent pitcher Manny Aybar and infielder Jason Smith to the Devil Rays was that the 37-year-old native of Tampa didn't want to uproot his family.

A big part of that was the Cubs' spring-training site in Arizona, where McGriff didn't want to spend another six weeks away from home. Of course the Yankees train in Tampa, where McGriff went to Jefferson High School and lives. McGriff started his pro career as a ninth-round pick of the Yankees in the 1981 draft but was traded to Toronto in 1982.

While LaMar is a difficult man for the Yankees to deal with - he asked for Ramiro Mendoza for backup catcher Mike DiFelice a couple of years ago - the Devil Rays are desperate to move money quickly.

"If they had made the deal with the Cubs, they would have been all right," a source said. "But every day that goes by they are losing money and they can't stand it."

McGriff, in the final year of a two-year deal, makes $6.25 million this year. There is a $6.75 million option for next season or a $500,000 buyout. The option vests if McGriff gets 550 plate appearances this season. After striking out as a pinch-hitter in the Rays' 2-1 loss to the Angels last night, McGriff is hitting .326 with 19 homers and 60 RBIs in 358 plate appearances. McGriff would also be insurance at first base next year if Tino Martinez, a fellow Jefferson High alum, leaves and stud prospect Nick Johnson isn't ready.

The Yankees are encouraged by the mediocre package the Devil Rays were willing to accept from the Cubs.

---

-New Yorker
Did you really think that Hoboken was the birthplace of Base Ball?

...when lineups have to be determined, not by a player's ability or productivity (which McGriff is giving to the Devil Rays by the truckload), but by the size of his paycheck! "Sorry, fans, we can't AFFORD to put the best lineup possible on the field for you!"

(Ever wonder why players who reject trades because "I like where I am" or "I want to be closer to my family" never say, "I like my situation here so much, I'll gladly take a pay cut to stay here."?)

Well, actually, talk to St. Louis and Big Mac.


-New Yorker
Did you really think that Hoboken was the birthplace of Base Ball?

Your're right about Big Mac, NY. And we might add guys like Tony Gwynn, Kirby Puckett, Cal Ripken -- but they're the exception these day, rather than the rule. I guess that's why I respect them so much more than I do most other players. I say "hats off" to Fred McGriff, who loves his home town and wants to be close to his family and who realizes there is more to peace, security, and contentment than M-O-N-E-Y (although he IS getting a lot for a last-place team!)

I would also like to add Robin Yount to that list. He could have followed the $$$, or gone for a team with a chance to contend for a ring, but he stayed in Milwaukee, where the fans loved him.


-New Yorker
Did you really think that Hoboken was the birthplace of Base Ball?

From The Paper of Record:

quote:

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July 27, 2001

Devil Rays Trade McGriff to Cubs
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 3:36 p.m. ET

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 later.

McGriff, with 436 career homers, will be in uniform Sunday when the Cubs wrap up a four-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Devil Rays, the worst team in baseball, and the Cubs reached a deal July 8 that would have sent McGriff to Chicago for two prospects. The Cubs also were expected to pick up a $6.75 million option for next season.

But McGriff, a Tampa native who has two small children, decided at the time to stay put.

---

-New Yorker
Did you really think that Hoboken was the birthplace of Base Ball?

Why didn't Fred McGriff accept that trade to the Cubs a day earlier? Manny Aybar pitched a six-hit shutout Thursday night for the Iowa Cubs, obviously before he learned of the completed deal -- against the PORTLAND BEAVERS!!!!!

Pretty funny.

I wonder what happened in the meantime to change his mind. There was speculation that he was holding out for the Braves, there was the above talk from the Yankees, but obviously those didn't happen.

Any thoughts? Why is going to Chicago any better today than it was ten days ago?


-New Yorker
Did you really think that Hoboken was the birthplace of Base Ball?

Here's a little more, courtesy of Tampa Bay Online:

quote:

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McGriff alters course, joins Cubs

MARTY STRASEN mstrasen@tbo.com
Published: Jul 17, 2001

TAMPA - Fred McGriff has had a change of heart.
In the process, he goes from worst to first.

A trade that was nixed by McGriff earlier this month became official today when McGriff, a Tampa native, agreed to leave the Devil Rays and join the Chicago Cubs. In return, the Rays receive pitcher Manny Aybar and a player to be named later.

"I have been thinking about it for the last two weeks," McGriff said. "This decision gives me an opportunity to control my future. I had to think about everything as far as 'Do I want to play?' and 'Where do I want to play?' and 'How long do I want to play?'

"From the start I didn't want to make a hasty decision. I knew I had until July 31. I knew I had time to think about it. I didn't want to jump out and do something. I wanted to analyze things."

"Fred McGriff has not only been the most productive player in our brief history, he has also given us credibility as a major-league organization and has done everything on and off the field that we could have asked for," said Rays GM Chuck LaMar. "He is currently having one of his best seasons ever and if he remains healthy for the next several years, he truly should be considered for the Hall of Fame.

"However, this organization has to get back to building with young players and at the same time lowering payroll. This trade, and trades like this one, give our young players a chance to establish themselves as major-leaguers and reduces our payroll."

Tampa Bay, with the worst record in baseball, has been looking to unload some of its high-priced veterans in exchange for prospects. McGriff, 37, is set to make $5.9 million this season and, with 550 plate appearances, gains an option for the 2002 campaign worth $6.75 million.

If McGriff stays with the Cubs next season, the Devil Rays have agreed to pay $1 million of his 2002 salary.

The Cubs were willing to take on that salary in an effort to bolster their offense for the season's final two months.

Chicago leads Houston by three games in the National League Central Division with a 59-42 record and boasts one of the top pitching staffs in baseball, but the Cubs' offense is among the National League's bottom half in run production.

McGriff is batting .318 with 19 home runs and 61 RBI. His left-handed bat is expected to help a Cub lineup that's built around right-handed power hitter Sammy Sosa.

McGriff had earlier exercised his no-trade clause, indicating he wanted to continue playing in his hometown.

Instead, the veteran first baseman will have a chance to compete for a postseason berth while the Devil Rays try to construct a brighter future while cutting their 2001 payroll by about $2.9 million.

---

-New Yorker
Did you really think that Hoboken was the birthplace of Base Ball?

Okay, now I can comment. Those of you who peruse other message boards probably have seen my opinions on McGriff pop up here and there. I just want to say that after spending less than a month roaming those threads, I really have come to appreciate the group of intelligent individuals over here at the OBC. You just can't spend too much time over there. It starts to affect your sanity.

Now, as far as McGriff, I think it's a nice move for the Cubs. Obviously, they didn't have to give up anything. But I think what's also important (and often overlooked) is the fact that McGriff will not steal the spotlight from Sosa. Many people wanted Giambi (who of course seems to be off the block now after closing within 4 games of the wild card over the past few weeks), but if Sosa had problems sharing the spotlight with Mr. Cub II Mark Grace, how could he deal with the AL MVP? He asked for another bat, not another superstar. Sad but true. Sammy wants to be the man.

Nevertheless, I think that McGriff is a nice piece for the puzzle, as are DeShields and Tucker -- those guys came cheap as well and could be big down the stretch -- they've already paid some dividends.

The McGriff ordeal was confusing, especially with all his cryptic comments after supposedly final denials (twice). But it all worked out, and now we'll see what he can do.

Of course, many Cubs fans will never be satisfied. After finally get that much-needed bat, many are saying that Cubs "have to get" Al Leiter and Shannon Stewart if they want to be serious about the playoffs.

My take is that, yes, that "had to have" another bat. I would have been disappointed if we had stood pat with yesterday's roster. But I'm comfortable seeing what this team can do in the playoffs. The key is that they've added depth, consistent hitting and a little power to a team that already has strong pitching and defense without mortgaging the future that many experts (unbelievably) say is destined to be a dynasty. They haven't given up any of their most-heralded prospects yet, so in my opinion MacPhail has done an outstanding job.

As I said before, give me one title in my lifetime and I'm happy. Nothing is guaranteed for the future.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Chicago Cubs -- Back-to-back World Series Champions 1907-1908
EAMUS CATULI -- AC125693

Also add George Brett to your list of players staying with one team.

Kansas City Royals - 1985 World Series Champions

Wow, how could I have forgotten Brett?

I will always think of him and Robin Yount together. Midwestern heroes, one club careers, good friends who retired at the same time and went into Cooperstown together. And I was lucky enough to be there- what a ceremony that was....


-New Yorker
Did you really think that Hoboken was the birthplace of Base Ball?