Ken Griffey Jr. Article

[DBAHO]

From the idiots at the Cubune,

 

Maybe this is Aaron Rowand's year.

 

He is playing well enough this spring to ease the White Sox's concerns about center field, where they haven't had an All-Star since Chet Lemon.

 

But should general manager Ken Williams become interested in an upgrade, there's a high-risk, high-reward option available.

 

Ken Griffey Jr. finally appears to be healthy as he prepares for what should be a productive season. He provided a reminder of his talents Thursday, hitting a 440-foot blast off Toronto reliever Jayson Durocher that carried over the indoor batting cages that sit beyond the right-field fence at Dunedin (Fla.) Stadium.

 

There's talk, as there always seems to be, of a trade that would send him from Cincinnati back to the Seattle Mariners. But keep an eye on the Sox.

 

If the 34-year-old Griffey has indeed moved out from under the black cloud that has followed him for three of his four years with the Reds—a judgment that could be made by Memorial Day, maybe even May 1—then he and his management-friendly contract could be a good fit on the South Side.

 

With Magglio Ordonez, Billy Koch and perhaps Jose Valentin poised to depart after 2004, Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf will gain the payroll flexibility to accommodate Griffey. The future Hall of Famer is due $12.5 million through '08, but $6.5 million of that is deferred annually without interest.

 

Given Griffey's age and his playing only 78 games per year since 2001, he represents a huge gamble.

 

But if he's healthy, it's a risk the Sox must seriously consider if they're going to be an impact player in the Chicago marketplace, not to mention the American League Central.

 

Long term, Griffey could replace Ordonez, who is pricing himself out of the picture with a request for five or six years at $15 million per.

 

He would bring a left-handed bat to the middle of the lineup—a component missing since Robin Ventura's departure after 1998—and Gold Glove skills to center field.

 

If Reinsdorf could talk his investors into nudging this year's payroll toward $70 million, he could play Griffey alongside Ordonez. Rowand, whose batting average dropped to .521 with an 0-for-2 in Sunday's victory over San Francisco, could become a very valuable fourth outfielder while the temptation would be removed to rush Jeremy Reed.

 

There are reasons to seriously consider the addition of Griffey.

 

He's not a Juan Gonzalez-style malingerer unwilling to play with a hangnail; he's a guy who has had a terrible stretch of luck.

 

In his first year in Cincinnati, he hit 40 homers, including 18 that tied games or put the Reds ahead, drove in 118 runs and scored 100 runs. The last three years he has been limited because he tore his left hamstring running the bases late in spring training (2001), tore a tendon in his right knee during a rundown in the first week of the season (2002) and dislocated his right shoulder trying to make a diving catch a week into the season and ruptured a tendon in his right ankle after returning (2003).

 

He gets good character references.

 

"He's always been one of my favorites," Tampa Bay manager Lou Piniella said. "Great kid. And when I had him in Seattle, he was the best player in the game. He always had fun, played hard, played to win, played every day. And he was extremely productive. I think he's hungry to get back to as close to where he was as possible. And, quite frankly, I'd like to see him do it."

 

Seattle CEO Howard Lincoln endorses the Mariners' interest in reacquiring Griffey even though the eight-time All-Star orchestrated his departure with a demand to be traded. Lincoln was asked his feelings about former Mariners Alex Rodriguez and Griffey during a recent radio interview.

 

"I said, 'I consider Alex a great baseball player, and I consider Kenny a great player and a great human being,"' Lincoln said. "Let me put it this way: If I was stranded on a deserted island and I had to pick one or the other to be with me there, I would pick Kenny without any hesitation."

 

Griffey has some no-trade protection in his contract but is believed to be open to a trade. A return to the AL, where he hit 398 of his 481 home runs, would open up the option for him to serve as the designated hitter when his legs aren't quite right. He's a career .254 hitter with one homer every 21 at-bats at U.S. Cellular Field, but those numbers were put up before Reinsdorf brought the fences in.

 

Colorado and Texas have been the only better places for a power hitter to reside the last two years.

 

Yes, Griffey would be a financial risk, and, no, Reinsdorf doesn't take many of those. But if he's going to keep the economic gap between Chicago's two franchises from growing any wider, he needs to deliver a winner.

 

If Griffey looks anything like his old self in April and May, he could be a part of the answer.

[UofIChiSox]

Griffey is an awfully long way from his old self. I don't see us wanting to increase payroll either. That's just my two cents though.

[C.Rector]

Phil Rogers is losing it mentally.

[SoxFan562004]

Yeah, that's what I want to see the Sox do, instead of going into next off-season with 20-30m dollar payroll flexibility I want to see them get a guy who will add payroll burden and hasn't played at 100% in about 4-years!

 

Also, I still believe that Maggs can ask for 15m a year all he wants, but good luck finding a team to pay it.

 

If Sox are going to add any extra payroll in spring training (which I'm not holding my breath for) I would much rather see them sign Urbina or make a run at Benson from Pittsburgh

 

Griffey may have a great year, but I don't want the Sox to be the team to take the gamble, they just don't have the payroll flexibility to take the risk

[Cali]

Well, I remember last season he wrote and article saying that he thought Carl Everett would provide the spark that the offense needed. We all know what happened eventually....

[YASNY]

On the surface, sticking a healthy Griffey in the middlw of the lineup looks great. But, that's about it. Every analysis of the situaion screams that it would be a major mistake, in my opinion.

[southsider2k5]

I guess I am in the minority. When you get a chance at the potential of Griffey for only adding $6mil to the payroll, you take a shot at it. Hell as desparate for pitching as Cincy is there might be a Koch for Griffey deal that can be worked out.

[israel4ever]

Why WOULDN'T you want Griffey on the Sox? He'd be awesome in the 4th spot, between Thomas and Ordonez, (R-L-R), is a good citizen, and tears up AL pitching.

 

Who cares about a $30 million surplus, JR won't spend it on improving the team anyway. It'll just line his (and the investors') pockets!

[Rex Hudler]

I guess I am in the minority.  When you get a chance at the potential of Griffey for only adding $6mil to the payroll, you take a shot at it.  Hell as desparate for pitching as Cincy is there might be a Koch for Griffey deal that can be worked out.

ss2k, you have a ton of credit card debt??

 

Here is why you don't trade for Griffey.....

 

2000: $12.5M [$5.5M of 2000 salary deferred until 2009+]

2001: $12.5M [$6.5M from subsequent years deferred until 2009-2024]

2002: $12.5M

2003: $12.5M

2004: $12.5M

2005: $12.5M

2006: $12.5M

2007: $12.5M

2008: $12.5M

2009: Team option with $4.0M buyout

 

Just because you don't have to pay him all that money now, doesn't mean you don't have to pay it. I can see it now..... people on this board are screaming in 2011 because the Sox owe Griffey a couple million and it is keeping them from signing BJ Upton as a free agent.

 

Griffey is 3 years removed from a decent season. Even if he hadn't been injured, it is likely he would be on the decline right now. There is no way I would take a $66.5 million chance on a player in decline, even if he is healthy.

[Texsox]

I guess I am in the minority.  When you get a chance at the potential of Griffey for only adding $6mil to the payroll, you take a shot at it.  Hell as desparate for pitching as Cincy is there might be a Koch for Griffey deal that can be worked out.

My friend here speaks the truth. IIRC most of his injuries have come from hustling. I wouldn't mind seeing him in a Sox uniform. Now if it comes down to signing Grif or Maggs, give me Maggs for the next 3 or 4 years.

[southsider2k5]

My friend here speaks the truth. IIRC most of his injuries have come from hustling. I wouldn't mind seeing him in a Sox uniform. Now if it comes down to signing Grif or Maggs, give me Maggs for the next 3 or 4 years.

I agree totally. Thing is I seriously doubt that Maggs is in a Sox uni next year. The Sox have been very aggresive in giving mid-term deals to the guys that they are identifying as their core. The only reason Maggs hasn't been signed is because he doesn't want to be. I get the feeling he will be in SoCal this time next year.

[Reddy]

honestly, if this move were to happen i'd be supportive of it. having a 23456 of lee-thomas-ordonez-griffey-konerko would honestly be one of the best lineups in the game... there are pros and cons but hell, if all we'd need to do is trade koch, i'd say go for it

[elrockinMT]

No doubt that Griffey Jr gets hurt because of his hustle. I am sure he gives it his all and his a very potent left handed bat, but I think he is a fragile individual and easily injured. I also think his biggest glory days are behind him. Why pay Griffey the kind of money that Rex has outlined when we could pay it to keep Maggs? If we don't keep Maggs then we have payroll flexibility. Phil Rogers always makes the argument about getting an impact player for PR purposes so the Sox can act like they are competing with the cubs. We don't play in the same league or division as the cubs so our focus should be on putting a winning team on the field to win where we are at and not in the public relations arena. We can win with the guys that are here now and when they are winning that will bring in fans. I have nothing against Ken Griffey Jr, but the fact is we don't need him at this stage in his career.

[UofIChiSox]

I'm a big fan of investing money in Maggs who has been a steady contributor over the last few seasons rather than Griffey who has been anything but. The way I look at it is that we still have a chance to get Maggs and give him the money he deserves. Maybe Kenny is letting him realize that he won't be able to get 15M and is gonna sign him later, we don't know. It seems VERY unlikely to me that we could add Junior Griffey now and retain Maggs next year. I'll take the steady Maggs over Iffy Griffey hands down.

[Reddy]

i'll agree that i'd take maggs over griffey as well, but keeping maggs doesnt look like a priority for our upper management... :fyou

[southsider2k5]

No doubt that Griffey Jr gets hurt because of his hustle. I am sure he gives it his all and his a very potent left handed bat, but I think he is a fragile individual and easily injured. I also think his biggest glory days are behind him. Why pay Griffey the kind of money that Rex has outlined when we could pay it to keep Maggs? If we don't keep Maggs then we have payroll flexibility. Phil Rogers always makes the argument about getting an impact player for PR purposes so the Sox can act like they are competing with the cubs. We don't play in the same league or division as the cubs so our focus should be on putting a winning team on the field to win where we are at and not in the public relations arena. We can win with the guys that are here now and when they are winning that will bring in fans. I have nothing against Ken Griffey Jr, but the fact is we don't need him at this stage in his career.

Maggs has already turned down a 4 year $48 million deal. Griffey is making $500,000 a year more than that. That's all. Maggs thinks he can get into that $14-15 mil a year category for 5 years. Like I said, I really doubt we see Maggs in Chicago next year.

[Queen Prawn]

I don't think I would want Griffey on the team. He can't stay healthy and he whines regularly (which I could see the team dealing with if he could stay healthy and put up the numbers). If there was a chance he could stay uninjured for a full season and put up decent numbers, okay, sure, I guess grab the guy.

 

How would having two big names (Thomas and Griffey) on the team work out in the clubhouse?

[Queen Prawn]

Maggs has already turned down a 4 year $48 million deal.  Griffey is making $500,000 a year more than that.  That's all.  Maggs thinks he can get into that $14-15 mil a year category for 5 years. Like I said, I really doubt we see Maggs in Chicago next year.

I doubt it as well, but I do think (from what I've read and heard here) the Sox have made a decent effort to retain Maggs. Then again, what the hell do I know?

[SuperSteve]

There is one way I would do it. And, it would require two things. First, the Reds take one of our high-priced players. Second, we work this deal like the Yankees worked the ARod deal, we make them pay quite a bit of his salary. We can throw them someone like Borchard to make this deal good for them, but those are the only ways I would do this.

[Chisoxfn]

I'd go for it, because its the type of move that could catapult this franchise back into being a major market team. It could also blow up, but I think if the team sucks this year, it will probably be blown up anyway, so they might as well take the shot now.

[C.Rector]

I'd go for it, because its the type of move that could catapult this franchise back into being a major market team.  It could also blow up, but I think if the team sucks this year, it will probably be blown up anyway, so they might as well take the shot now.

How would this make the White Sox a "major market team" when it hasn't had the kind of consistent fan support for that since the mid-1960's? If you really think that picking up a washed up loser like Griffey would get fans to turn out for the Sox in droves, then you are either on drugs or in severe need of a shrink.

[Dick Allen]

Well, I remember last season he wrote and article saying that he thought Carl Everett would provide the spark that the offense needed. We all know what happened eventually....

He did do that, but when the Sox did do the deal, he questioned it. Everett had gone on cold streak just before the trade.

[YASNY]

I can give you three very good reasons why it wouldn't make sense for us to pick up Griffey.

 

1. Reed

2. Sweeney

3. Anderson

 

Plus the fact that next year we will still have Lee, Rowand and Borchard. That is 6 pretty good outfielders to build this club around in whatever combination works. Wht would we want to take such a huge payroll gamble on an old, fragile outfielder. This reminds me of some the Sox other "veteran" pick ups over the years. Jim Gentile, Rocky Colovito, Ron Santo, Tommy Davis, etc, etc.

[Butter Parque]

The last time he told the Chisox to get a player, they did. They traded for Carl Everett. Remember that article about the Rogers wanting the sox to get him.

[SoxAce]

I can give you three very good reasons why it wouldn't make sense for us to pick up Griffey.

 

1. Reed

2. Sweeney

3. Anderson

Sounds good to me. Those prospects are the future. I don't think KW would trade our good prospects anymore. I'm sure he's learned from that.