Baseball

Ailing Yankees invite McGriff to work out

By MARC TOPKIN
Published July 28, 2004

One day after being released by the Devil Rays, Fred McGriff was back on the field - working out for the Yankees in Tampa.

The Yankees called Monday night and invited McGriff to take batting practice at their minor-league complex Tuesday and again today.

With first baseman Jason Giambi likely headed to the disabled list, and possibly out for an extended period, the Yankees apparently are considering McGriff as a potential replacement.

Agent Jim Krivacs, attending Tuesday's Devil Rays game, said he wasn't sure of the Yankees' intentions but was hopeful McGriff would get an opportunity.

"I don't know what's going to happen," Krivacs said.

If McGriff, 40, were signed by the Yankees to continue his pursuit of the seven home runs he needs for 500, it would bring his career full circle.

He was drafted by the Yankees in 1981 as a 17-year-old out of Jefferson High but was traded to Toronto in December 1982 (as a minor-league throw-in with Dave Collins and Mike Morgan for Dale Murray and Tom Dodd) and went on to an All-Star, and potential Hall of Fame, career.

Depending on the extent of Giambi's problems, the Yankees also could have interest in making a trade with the Rays to bring back Tino Martinez.

Before Tuesday's game in Toronto, Yankees manager Joe Torre told MLB.com he didn't think adding a first baseman was a priority because Tony Clark had done well.

[Last modified July 28, 2004, 01:00:38]