Struggling McGriff Is Cut by Devil Rays

Fred McGriff was cut Saturday by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, seven home runs short of 500.

McGriff, 40, struggled after the Devil Rays brought him up from triple-A Durham on May 28, hitting only .181 with two homers and seven runs batted in in 27 games. He hasn’t homered since June 17 against Adam Eaton at San Diego.

Tampa Bay designated him for assignment, meaning the Devil Rays have 10 days to trade him, send him outright to the minors or put him on waivers.

“If a major league club has interest in Fred, we’ll let him go,” Tampa Bay General Manager Chuck LaMar said.

McGriff is tied with Lou Gehrig for 21st place on the career home run list. He was trying to join Ted Williams, Willie McCovey and Eddie Murray as the only players to reach 500 homers after turning 40.

*

Mark Prior threw for about five minutes on a flat surface before the Chicago Cubs played the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.

“For the most part I felt pretty good,” Prior said.

The right-hander left Thursday night’s game against Milwaukee in the second inning when he felt discomfort in his elbow.

*

Toronto right-hander Roy Halladay will make his scheduled start on Wednesday in New York against the Yankees despite concerns about his sore shoulder.... St. Louis Cardinal pitcher Mike Lincoln will sit out the rest of the season after having elbow ligament replacement surgery. The right-hander was 3-2 with a 5.19 ERA in 13 relief appearances.