The Houston Astros acquired third baseman Aubrey Huff from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for two minor-league prospects yesterday, hoping Huff can help revive the Astros' struggling offense.

The Astros, who also got some cash in the deal, are tied for last in the National League in batting average.

Houston will pay $1.4 million of the $3 million that remains on the final year of Huff's contract. Tampa Bay will pay the rest. The Devil Rays get right-hander Mitch Talbot and infielder Ben Zobrist from the Astros' system.

Huff hit .283 with eight home runs and 28 RBIs in 63 games for the Devil Rays this season.

Also, the Astros shook up their slumping offense by firing hitting coach Gary Gaetti. They promoted minor-league hitting coordinator Sean Berry to replace Gaetti.

Cubs

Chicago general manager Jim Hendry denied that he said he would use the All-Star break to determine the future of manager Dusty Baker.

"My stance has never changed," Hendry said. "Jim Hendry is operating under the same situation all along. There was never any comment by me that there would be a decision over the All-Star break. ... Nothing has changed."

Speculation that Baker or some of his coaches would be fired over the break has been raging. Not so, says Hendry.

"People can write and say what they want," he added.

Giants

With the grand jury investigating Barry Bonds apparently nearing the end of its term, speculation has swirled around the possibility that one of the game's greatest sluggers could be indicted for perjury or other crimes.

A spokesman for U.S. Attorney Kevin Ryan declined to comment whether the investigation was near completion. That's no surprise, a former top lieutenant to Ryan said, because grand jury proceedings are by necessity a closely held secret.

The investigation centers not on whether Bonds used steroids -- which is not a crime -- but on whether he lied under oath about using a performance-enhancing substance known as "the clear."

Elsewhere

Television ratings for Tuesday night's All-Star game on Fox were up 15 percent over last season's contest, the largest increase in 24 years. The game had a 9.3 rating and 16 share with an average of 14.4 million viewers. Last year's game got an 8.1 rating and a 14 share, the second year in a row that the game had plummeted to an all-time low. The Home Run Derby on Monday, televised by ESPN, had a 10 percent increase. The contest had a 5.4 rating compared to 4.9 last year.