McGriff Agrees to Go to Cubs

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 will join the Cubs on Sunday.

The Devil Rays and the Cubs reached a tentative deal July 8 that would have sent McGriff to Chicago for two prospects.

“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?’ ”

McGriff got a new contract to accept the trade, one that probably will result in him getting at least $1 million more that his current contract called for.

A $6.75-million team option for 2002, which would have become guaranteed with 550 plate appearances and carried a $500,000 buyout, was scrapped.

Instead, McGriff was given a $7.25-million player option for next year, and a mutual option for 2003 was added at $8.5 million with a $500,000 buyout.

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The Philadelphia Phillies, bolstering their bullpen for a playoff run, got relievers Turk Wendell and Dennis Cook from the New York Mets for minor league pitchers Bruce Chen and Adam Walker.

Moments later, the Phillies announced another deal, sending reliever Wayne Gomes to the San Francisco Giants for utilityman Felipe Crespo.

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Former St. Louis batting coach Mike Easler dropped his lawsuit against the Cardinals, one day after claiming he’d been unfairly dismissed earlier this month. Easler’s suit, filed Thursday in state court, charged the Cardinals with wrongful termination, defamation of character and invasion of privacy. . . . Cardinal reliever Mike Timlin had arthroscopic surgery to repair torn knee cartilage and is expected to miss at least four weeks. . . . The Boston Red Sox designated pitcher Pete Schourek for assignment and brought up left-hander Casey Fossum from triple-A Pawtucket. . . . Ruben Sierra was put on the 15-day disabled list by the Texas Rangers, who purchased the contract of outfielder Craig Monroe from triple-A Oklahoma City. . . . Right-hander Willie Blair was sent outright from the Detroit Tigers to triple-A Toledo. The Tigers purchased the contract of left-hander Matt Perisho from Toledo to replace Blair. . . . The Pittsburgh Pirates designated utility player John Wehner for assignment to clear a roster spot for right-hander Bronson Arroyo.