The surest sign of a franchise in trouble (as if the 27/61 record wasn't enough):

quote:

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RAYS PREPARED TO PURGE
CARTER GADDIS of The Tampa Tribune
Published: Jul 8, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG - Chuck LaMar watched the Devil Rays' loss to Florida on Sunday from the Joe DiMaggio Suite at Tropicana Field. The view was nice, high above the third base dugout.
The Rays' general manager had a good view of Fred McGriff's first-inning double, a drive down the right-field line that produced Tampa Bay's only run of the game. How much longer McGriff will hit for the Devil Rays, not even LaMar could say as the first half of season four came to an appropriate end.

For all of its woes, it was a first half that may be remembered as the beginning of something. With a major-league-worst 27-61 record at the All-Star break, the first half certainly won't be remembered for the Rays' prowess in the field.

The Rays paid for the impatience of 2000 with one of the worst pre-All-Star Game records in major-league history, and find themselves on pace to finish with 112 losses. That would be the third-most losses in American League history, and the most losses in either league since the 1965 Mets lost 112.

But the first half of 2001 saw the Rays change managers and jettison a pair of high-priced, under-producing veterans - Vinny Castilla and Gerald Williams - who were part of Tampa Bay's sudden, misguided urge in 2000 to field a team of expensive, 30-something free-agent sluggers.

They are gone, bid farewell by the Rays as part of the Youth Movement of 2001.

More moves are promised. As the July 31 trade deadline looms, let the bidding begin.

"We're going to have a lot of discussions between now and the 31st about our veteran players," LaMar said. "You hate to let the group of veteran players go, but for us to get younger and reduce the payroll, there's really no other choice."

This time last year, Steve Trachsel, Mark Guthrie, Rick White, Bubba Trammell and Jim Mecir played for the Devil Rays.

By July 31, 2000, they were gone. In their place, after a whirlwind of trades in late July, are second baseman Brent Abernathy, outfielder Jason Tyner, pitcher Jesus Colome and pitcher Paul Wilson.

Today, at the All-Star break, pitchers Albie Lopez and Bryan Rekar, catchers John Flaherty and Mike DiFelice, All- Star Greg Vaughn and McGriff play for the Devil Rays.

By July 31, many of them could be gone - McGriff's no-trade clause notwithstanding.

"I'll be very surprised if we do not have a trade or two before the July 31 trade deadline," LaMar said. "We were one of the busiest teams in baseball - if not the busiest team in baseball - last July 31, trying to get younger. And we got Tyner and Abernathy and Colome at that time. And I think we're going to try to be active this trade deadline as well."

A strong argument can be made that the two oldest Rays remain the team's best players, and the most attractive potential trade bait for contenders looking for a run producer.

With combined 2001 salaries of about $13 million, McGriff, 37, and Vaughn, 36, take up a considerable chunk of the Devil Rays' $56 million payroll. McGriff can be a free agent at the end of this year, unless he gets 550 plate appearances to trigger a one-year option at $6.75 million. Vaughn is signed through 2003.

Lopez and Rekar, with their combined 5-21 record, could be attractive to contending teams short on starting pitching. Which means just about every team except the Yankees, and even the three-time World Series champions could use an extra arm or two down the stretch.

LaMar did not rule out the possibility of moving a prospect or a young player as part of a deal to unload salary before the deadline. The Rays included left-handed pitcher Todd Belitz, their fourth-round pick in the 1997 amateur draft, in the trade with Oakland that brought Colome to the organization last season.

But most of the key prospects, such as outfielders Josh Hamilton and Carl Crawford, remain off-limits.

"Right now, we're just trying to hold on to every young player we possibly can," LaMar said. "So I think the trade talks are going to center around Fred McGriff and Greg Vaughn, because of the caliber of player they are and the contracts they have. One of the catchers, and several of the pitchers."

There's no way to know how soon LaMar will pull the trigger on some deals. It happened on July 28 and 31 last season.

And once he does make moves - if he can - Manager Hal McRae will be left to find the right combination of players on the field. The combination was right only 27 of 88 times through the first half, an indication that an influx of new players won't disrupt McRae's plans too much.

"It's not difficult at all," McRae said. "You just do what you've got to do. If you acquire new players, you try to decide where they're going to play and when they can play. If you don't, you play with what you've got."

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-New Yorker
Swinging for the fences....

This is interesting. Some guy called a Chicago sports radio station last night convinced that Fred McGriff was the answer to the Cubs offensive problems. Before he could finish making his point, both of the hosts cut him off and said there was no way because he loves Tampa Bay.
Just goes to show you...

Apparently the Rays (or at least their GM) don't love him enough to keep him aboard. Of course, he does have that no-trade clause. Personally, I think the Cubs franchise WOULD prefer McGriff to Giambi, because they could get him cheaper and his star power would not take away from Sosa (even though he asked for 1 or 2 more bats a while back, I don't think he meant stars -- Sammy wants to be the man. Rumor has it he couldn't handle Grace in the same clubhouse because he was Mr. Cub 2. Imagine the reigning AL MVP coming in.) While Giambi could deliver a World Series, McGriff might guarantee the division title.

I still think the Cubs' big acquisition will be Glenallen Hill.

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

By the way, I came to this Giambi-Sosa conclusion after watching Giambi take center stage with 14 homers in the first round of the HR Derby. I'm convinced Sosa wouldn't go for it.

Giambi + Sosa = World Series OR divided clubhouse

McGriff + Sosa = NL Central title, peaceful clubhouse, and hopefully enough left over to build for the future.

Which is why I say, either go for Giambi or stand pat and hope the kids build off a pennant race and fufill the prophecies of the so-called experts and bring home 4 or 5 World Series titles.

I can see mortgaging the future for a surefire star. Not sure about doing it for Johnny Damon or Fred McGriff.

Besides, we got Delino DeShields now!

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

Cubs close to acquiring McGriff

July 10, 2001

Ken Rosenthal
The Sporting News

SEATTLE -- The Cubs are set to acquire first baseman Fred McGriff from the Devil Rays for two minorleaguers, but the deal hinges on whether McGriff will accept the trade, sources close to the talks told The Sporting News.

McGriff, 37, has a blanket no-trade clause. He has expressed reluctance in the past about leaving his native Tampa, but players frequently agree to waive their no-trade rights in exchange for financial compensation.

The Cubs could agree to pick up McGriff's $6.75 million option for next season. Under McGriff's current contract, the option will kick in only if he makes 550 plate appearances. He currently is at 329.

McGriff, batting .330 with 15 home runs and 53 RBIs, would be an excellent addition for the Cubs, a team that ranks second among the 16 National League clubs in pitching, but only 10th in runs per game.

The trade would enable the Cubs to move Matt Stairs from first base to left field while Rondell White recovers from a groin injury, and use Stairs off the bench after White returns.

The Devil Rays, a team looking to shed payroll, also are shopping outfielder Greg Vaughn and pitcher Albie Lopez. The trade of McGriff would enable them to play Steve Cox every day at first base.

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

Oh, and a source from The Sporting News says its 1B Julio Zuleta and OF Ross Gload. Thought that was in there somewhere but I guess not.

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