McGriff Is Still Mulling Options on Trade to Cubs

Fred McGriff hasn’t said yes. Then again, he hasn’t said no yet, either.

McGriff was in Tampa Bay’s lineup Thursday night against Montreal, batting fourth and going 0 for 3. But he apparently is still trying to decide whether to waive his no-trade clause and accept a trade that would send him to the Chicago Cubs.

“I’ve got a contract, I’ve got a no-trade clause--that’s about it,” McGriff said before the Devil Rays’ interleague victory over the Expos.

“Nothing’s ever dead,” he added. “We’ve got until July 31st, or whatever. I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do, everybody else has got to do what they’ve got to do.”

Earlier in the day, Cub President and General Manager Andy MacPhail said he was still waiting for an answer from McGriff. There’s no deadline, and MacPhail said he’ll give the first baseman the time he needs to make up his mind.

The Cubs and Devil Rays have agreed to a trade that would give Tampa Bay two prospects for McGriff.

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Pedro Martinez may not pitch again until late August because of his ailing right shoulder, an examination showed in a further setback for the banged-up Boston Red Sox ace.

The Red Sox already had not expected Martinez to return by the end of July. But after tests Thursday at Shea Stadium before a game against the New York Mets, Boston got more bad news.

“I think we’re looking at four to six weeks from today,” team physician Bill Morgan said.

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Second baseman Quilvio Veras was scratched from the Atlanta Brave lineup after he missed a flight from his native Dominican Republic.

Veras, who arrived after the game started, was originally set to lead off for the Braves in the first of a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates are expected to end their monthlong search for a general manager today by hiring Florida Marlin assistant general manager Dave Littlefield. . . . The Milwaukee Brewers claimed pitcher Mac Suzuki off waivers from the Colorado Rockies. . . . Struggling right-hander Andy Benes, saddled with a 6.95 earned-run average, was demoted to the bullpen by the St. Louis Cardinals. Rookie left-hander Bud Smith, 21, is the likely choice to take Benes’ next scheduled start Monday. . . . The Marlins activated utilityman Andy Fox from the 60-day disabled list and assigned infielder/outfielder Ryan McGuire to triple-A Calgary. . . . The Texas Rangers activated second baseman Randy Velarde from the 15-day disabled and optioned outfielder Bo Porter to triple-A Oklahoma. . . . The Cubs activated outfielder Rondell White from the 15-day disabled list and outrighted Todd Dunwoody to triple-A Iowa. . . . The Devil Rays activated right-hander Esteban Yan from the 15-day disabled list and optioned right-hander Jesus Colome to triple-A Durham.

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A judge has refused to dismiss one of the accusations in a lawsuit filed by the family of Roger Maris against Anheuser-Busch.

The world’s largest brewing company is accused by the family of the late New York Yankee slugger of violating Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.

The ruling came Wednesday in a suit seeking $300 million over the 1997 decision by the brewer to take away the family’s beer distributorship.

Last week, Circuit Judge R.A. Green dismissed half of the eight counts against Anheuser-Busch, which will prevent the Maris family from seeking punitive damages.