PAWTUCKET -- Officially, he's still a member of the Pawtucket Red Sox. In reality, he's in limbo.

Adam Stern will be headed to Baltimore at the end of the season, the chip the Red Sox used to acquire catcher Javier Lopez. But because the trade can't be completed until theend of the season, Stern not only remains in Pawtucket, but he says he hasn't been told he's going anywhere.

"You don't know what to think because I haven't heard anything yet," he said. "Everything has been secondhand information and word of mouth.

"Obviously you want to talk to your agent in this situation. As of right now I'm part of the Boston Red Sox, and in Pawtucket right now. You just take it from there and see what happens."

Prior to last night's game Stern said he has played well enough here to warrant a call-up. An original draft pick of the Atlanta Braves, he was selected by the Red Sox in the 2004 Rule V Draft and is accustomed to the inner workings of the game.

"It's baseball and baseball's a business," he said. "You have to look at it that way, and certain things need to be done. You can never get too attached to anywhere because you don't know where you're going to be. As long as you're still wanted out there, that's the good thing. Obviously, you can't let it get to you and take it personally."

When he was informed of the "player to be named" status, he was quite happy and yelled to his PawSox teammates, "I'm still here."

For now.

-- JOE McDONALD

jmcdonal@projo.com / (401) 277-7340