Right Fielder Too Costly For Cubs?

The Cubs already have a payroll approaching $40 million.

Ryne Sandberg will be paid $8.6 million next year (counting his$3.5 million signing bonus payable in December).

Greg Maddux is unsigned, and he wants about $5.2 million nextseason.

So the question is, if Andre Dawson leaves a gaping hole in theoutfield, can the Cubs afford a third $5.5 million or $6 million mansuch as Barry Bonds or Ruben Sierra?

The answer probably is no because Shawon Dunston, Mike Morganand Mark Grace each will make about $3 million and Steve Buechelenearly $2.5 million.

It could come down to re-signing Dawson or letting Dawson andMaddux leave to sign Bonds or Sierra.

They call him the Big Cat. But Andres Galarraga has been theBig Bust with the Cardinals. They got him for Ken Hill, who is 12-4with the Expos.

Galarraga had just 13 hits from April 6 through June 12, thenmatched it July 21-27.

There is talk in St. Louis that his $3 million salary will notbe picked up next season.

When Pete Smith takes the place of injured Mike Bielecki asBraves starter today, it will be history.

The last Braves pitcher to miss a turn with injury was JohnSmoltz in his final start of 1990. That's 262 consectutive starts.

Mets pitcher David Cone will be a free agent after the season,and manager Jeff Torborg appears to be stretching him to the limit.

Cone is averaging 122 pitches a game, including 166 in onestart. Last season's major-league average was 94.5 pitches.

Talk about nothing. Cardinals catcher Rich Gedman hasn't scoreda run this season. He hasn't thrown out any of 21 basestealers,either.

The Astros were 11-14 for the month of July, but they had justtwo victories from starters - Butch Henry on July 12 and PeteHarnisch on July 28.

How bad are Astros starters? Mark Portugal leads them with fivevictories - and he has been on the disabled list for a week.