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Five Teams Interested In Griffey
Five teams have expressed interest in Ken Griffey Jr., according to Jon Heyman who confirms the Rays and Mariners are two of them. One other AL team and two NL clubs comprise the five.
For Griffey, Seattle would be a nostalgic return; however, the Rays would provide the convenience of playing two hours from his Orlando home. Writes Heyman,
"Griffey always has been a dedicated family man, so the convenience would appeal to him. The Rays are looking for one or two hitters, and while Griffey's on their list, a couple other younger players, such as Bobby Abreu, Pat Burrell, and perhaps Jason Giambi or Garrett Anderson may be higher on it. Adam Dunn is another big hitter in a free-agent market still stacked with sluggers."
The Kid is 39 years old. Despite hitting 15 homeruns for the Reds, he parked only 3 after being dealt to the White Sox. He hit only .249 last season with an OPS of .777. His agent, Brian Goldberg, says the low output was due to a hidden knee injury he suffered after tripping "over a misplaced foot locker in the Reds clubhouse," says Heyman; however, this excuse doesn't build any confidence in his ability to stay healthy. Griffey could come at a bargain for a team looking for a short term solution at DH.
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He will wind up as a DH for some AL team that thinks he can still produce. He can but he is declining..
Posted by: TripleHHH | January 04, 2009 at 11:02 AM
I think Griffey either ends up with the Mariners on a nostalgia campaign(M's are not contending and they need a DH) or in the NL.
Tampa Bay and Griffey make zero sense. They need that one masher who can DH on a regular basis. They will have just enough funds to pay for 1 DH bat and maybe a couple mil left over for a reliever (maybe). Griffey doesn't hit enough to be the Rays' starting DH. Not in that division. They need a Giambi/Burrell/Abreu type.
Posted by: melonis rex | January 04, 2009 at 11:12 AM
if he signs for less than 3M, he'll be a Ray. Why not on the cheap? He can play OF if needed every now and then. Why not sign Grif for 2.5 (guessing he'd take less for the chance to win a WS) AND another bat for what I am guessing will now be below market value...
Abreu and Grif would be ideal...
Posted by: nyyankz | January 04, 2009 at 11:25 AM
Griffey will definitely be had at a great bargain. Seattle and TB are the only teams I see in the mix. We are only a few weeks from the start of Spring Training, and there is still a huge line for DH types. Personally I see the Mariners getting him and the Rays picking up Giambi or Burrell. There is just such an abundance of hitters who fill the DH role that I don't see many teams jumping for a worn down 39 yr old.
Posted by: Fortunate Bob | January 04, 2009 at 11:28 AM
Griffey is pretty close to a replacement level player so hard to get him at a bargain. He can't field or hit vs lefties anymore and while he can hit righties somewhat he is unspectacular as a DH.
He would have to sign for like $3M-$4M a year to have a chance at being worth it.
Posted by: Ender | January 04, 2009 at 11:35 AM
griffey makes sense for atlanta as lf or cf... and he's stated an interest in playing there in the past.
would be a good guy for francouer, blanco, anderson, and heyward to learn from
Posted by: elmedius | January 04, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Griffey in Tampa makes sense, where he can be the Cliff Floyd replacement or something. He can DH and bat 5th there. Plus he wants to play closer to home.
Posted by: TripleHHH | January 04, 2009 at 11:56 AM
I still wish the cubs would look at griffey. pick himup for one year then get someone next year.. i just dont like the idea o bradley. griffey for one year then with the money you save you can get peavy, because next year the cubs will have more money to spend when they get the new owner in place, just an idea..
Posted by: Daniel Cubs Fan 4 Life | January 04, 2009 at 11:58 AM
I really hope Ken Griffey JR returns to Seattle. He has previously stated that he would be interested in returning and it would be a nice feel good story, to see the Kid back after all those years in the place where he first began. He wouldn't necessarily have to be an outfielder every day like he probably would in the National League and he would be bringing fans back to watch the M's. Although he is on the decline, i believe he has a little enough, enough to still produce average numbers that nobody will complain in Seattle about anyway...
Posted by: Rolling{Night}Hawk{09} | January 04, 2009 at 12:47 PM
"Griffey in Tampa makes sense, where he can be the Cliff Floyd replacement or something. He can DH and bat 5th there. Plus he wants to play closer to home."
It makes perfect sense for Griffey but ZERO sense for Tampa Bay.
Burrell/Abreu/Bradley/Dunn/Giambi>>>>>>>>>>Griffey
Each of those guys is easily worth 8-10 million by their WAR (wins over replacement). Griffey is below average for a DH, esp in the heavy hitting AL East. Rays have 10+ million to spend on a DH, why waste any of that money on Griffey. Dont get me wrong, if the Rays sign one of the afore mentioned DH options and Griffey wants to sign for 1 mil to be a back up outfielder, im all for it. Doubt he wants that though.
Posted by: delmonmvp | January 04, 2009 at 02:59 PM
Ughh, Junior has gotta retire while he still has some dignity. Don't go down sucking.
Posted by: Ed The Cubbie Genius | January 04, 2009 at 02:59 PM
I don't like the idea of the Cubs signing Bradley, but I like the idea of signing Griffey even less. Although Bradley could have been a fluke and is injury prone Griffey is probably more of an injury risk and isn't much to look at in the field. I really don't think at 39 that he could handle playing outfield everyday. Also with DeRo gone the Cubs are looking to replace his bat which Griffey couldn't do. As for Peavy I see about a 1% chance of him putting on Cubbie blue.
Posted by: Fortunate Bob | January 05, 2009 at 03:18 AM