Chicago, IL (My Sportsbook) - First baseman Fred McGriff has become a free agent, as the Chicago Cubs decided not to exercise their option on his contract for the 2003 season.

McGriff, who turned 39 on Thursday, has 478 career homers with 1,503 RBI and a .286 batting average during his 17-year career in the majors.

McGriff, acquired by the Cubs in a July 2001 deal with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, hit .273 with 30 homers and 103 RBI last season. It marked his fourth straight year and the eighth time in his career with at least 100 runs batted in.

The lefthanded slugger is ranked 21st all-time in homers and 40th in RBI. McGriff started his major league career with Toronto, and has also spent time with San Diego, Atlanta and Tampa Bay.

McGriff has at least 80 RBI in 15 straight seasons, a mark surpassed only by Hank Aaron's 17 consecutive years. McGriff is also just one of three sluggers to homer at least 200 times in both leagues. He has 256 homers in the National League to go along with 222 in the AL. Frank Robinson and Mark McGwire are also on that list.

The five-time All-Star has appeared in 50 post-season games, winning a World Series championship ring with Atlanta in 1995. He has played in three Division Series, five League Championship Series and two World Series, batting .303 with 10 homers and 37 RBI.