BREAKING NEWS: Griffey headed back to Seattle on 1-year deal

[Seattle1]

If this is true it would be wonderful! :crossfingers:


http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9236936/Source:-Griffey-headed-back-to-Seattle-on-1-year-deal

Griffey headed back to Seattle on 1-year deal

In a stunning turn of events, free-agent outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. has spurned the Braves to return to the Mariners on a one-year, $2 million contract, according to major-league sources.

The deal also includes incentive bonuses based on Griffey's playing time and the Mariners' attendance, one source said.

Griffey seemingly had been leaning toward the Braves, with Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones saying early Wednesday morning, "All signs are good."

The Braves train near Griffey's home in Orlando, and Atlanta is far more accessible for his family than Seattle. But after several days of deliberations — he was "truly agonizing," one source said — Griffey chose to return to his original team.

His decision marks another setback in an offseason full of unusual twists for the Braves, who failed in attempts to land Padres right-hander Jake Peavy in a trade and right-hander A.J. Burnett and shortstop Rafael Furcal in free agency.

Griffey, 39, would have assumed a much less prominent role than any of those players, platooning in left field with Matt Diaz. The Braves now figure pursue to another left-handed hitter, Garret Anderson, who also had been a free-agent target of the Mariners.

While the Braves are expected to be more competitive than the Mariners this season, Griffey will benefit from his return to the American League, in which he can serve as a designated hitter as well as an outfielder.

[RedsoxMetsFan123]

Im glad hes going back to seattle, the M's needed a replacement for Ibanez who went to the Phillies

[Zito75]

That's cool. A nice way to finish up his career- in Seattle. Maybe he'll get a chance to DH as well.

[mrakbaseball]

Im glad hes going back to seattle, the M's needed a replacement for Ibanez who went to the Phillies


That's cool. A nice way to finish up his career- in Seattle. Maybe he'll get a chance to DH as well.

The Mariners now value OF defense. Wakumatsu will DH Griffey vs RHP. Ibanez was awful defensively and Griffey in 2009 isn't much better.

[Seattle1]

Here's another article confirming it by MLB.com. Maybe we can really start believing it?

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090218&content_id=3846072&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

[Zito75]

Straight from Seattle Times - Front Page:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2008758659_griffeynew19.html

[joshfan]

If Jr oks DHing it will be great for all concerned
I hope he has a big year and revitalizes the M's

[NYMets523]

You already made a thread about this. Stop making multiple threads about news no one cares about.

[OleMissCub]

I just wanted to comment on how light hitting the Braves outfield was last year. These are the rate stats of their three starters:

.251/.366/.309
.289/.340/.418
.239/.294/.359

That's like something out of the deadball era.

[CROM]

I just wanted to comment on how light hitting the Braves outfield was last year. These are the rate stats of their three starters:

.251/.366/.309
.289/.340/.418
.239/.294/.359

That's like something out of the deadball era.


Thanks for reminding me.. Pffffft!! I really dont know what to make out of the Braves outfield situation. What happened to "The Natural"? Sports Illustrated getting everyones hopes up. I hope that Frenchy can return to form this year. Wait, I mean exceed form!! I wouldnt mind giving Jordan Schaefer a shot in CF this year. It looks as though a platoon is imminent in LF

[SamtheBravesFan]

Thanks for reminding me.. Pffffft!! I really dont know what to make out of the Braves outfield situation. What happened to "The Natural"? Sports Illustrated getting everyones hopes up. I hope that Frenchy can return to form this year. Wait, I mean exceed form!! I wouldnt mind giving Jordan Schaefer a shot in CF this year. It looks as though a platoon is imminent in LF

The point of no return started after Andruw Jones left; the Braves imported the light-hitting Kotsay, who was part of the no-slugging problem, and then he got hurt. Touted prospect Brandon Jones didn't hit well and Matt Diaz wasn't hitting at all and he got hurt. This brought in Gregor Blanco and his only skill is getitng on base; the guy can't hit a double to save his life. After Kotasy was traded, Josh Anderson came on full-time (he was called up to replace Kotsay after his back injury the first time) and he's an all-average, no walks, little slugging guy. Francoeur just completely imploded. Everyone jumped the gun on him in 2005, that much is obvious.

Basically, the Braves' outfield prospects that are supposed to do something are a couple of years away at the most. Brandon Jones regressed in 2008; he was looked upon before the season as a guy who could make an impact.

[mrakbaseball]

You already made a thread about this. Stop making multiple threads about news no one cares about.

You are not a moderator here. If you're not interested in a specific thread ignore it.
It's a good day.

[boisemarinersfan]

I don't care if the M's go 1-161. As long as I get to see Jr. play live in the uni once this season. He has and always will be my favorite. I have been so happy for the last few hours I can't take it. I know he's not even close to the guy that left but "I DON'T CARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

[Seattle1]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/baseball/400661_mays19.html?source=mypi

Willie Mays helped steer Griffey back to Seattle

PEORIA, Ariz. -- It took a 24 to land a 24.

Hall of Fame center fielder Willie Mays, the man who inspired Ken Griffey Jr. to wear the No. 24 as a Mariner, helped inspire Griffey on Wednesday to return to Seattle.

Mariners president Chuck Armstrong was driving from the team's Peoria complex to Phoenix's Sky Harbor airport Wednesday afternoon and not feeling good about the Mariners' chances of landing Griffey. The Atlanta Braves had been putting on a big push, and many thought the Braves would prevail.

It was during the drive down Loop 101 that Armstrong got a call from former Mariners second baseman Harold Reynolds, now an analyst for MLB Network.

"Harold wanted to know if I wanted to talk to Willie Mays," Armstrong said. "He wanted to know if it was an imposition. An imposition? He's conceivably the best player of all time. Who wouldn't want to talk to Willie Mays? So he gave me Willie's number and I called him. And although Willie and I had met a few times, he's talking like we're old friends.

"He goes on and gives me a list of reasons why Junior should finish his career in Seattle. And then he asked if I minded if he called Junior. Did I mind? So I gave him the number, and Ken told me later that he had talked to Willie."

Late Wednesday on his "Hot Stove" show on MLB Network, Reynolds picked up the story.

"Obviously, (Griffey) ... has been bombarded by friends and different players from all over the league calling him, trying to help him make this decision. Late today, Willie Mays calls him.

"Willie basically said, 'Ken, at the end of the day, at the end of your career, your legacy is going to be with the Seattle Mariners.'

"And it really hit home with (Griffey). And I think that really made him understand that Seattle is the place that he needs to be. His heart has always been there. I know for the 10 years he was in Cincinnati, he continued to follow the Mariners."

Armstrong said he and Reynolds talked several times a day during the past week or two about ways to reunite Griffey with the Mariners.

"Harold and Willie, too, have given us great assists in getting this done," Armstrong said.

[boisemarinersfan]

You already made a thread about this. Stop making multiple threads about news no one cares about.

Sorry my ******* pacific northwest team doesn't have 20 million people to draw fans from. When you reach adulthood then maybe I will value you opinion. Travel the world (or at least the U.S.) or keep your trap shut. Don't talk crap about another persons team. I have been to N.Y. Shea and Yankee and a bunch of other stadiums but I dont ever talk bad about some one elses team. Don't butt your year east coast @$$ in to a subject you have no clue about. We have great pride in Griffey so piss off. Be proud of your 2 world championships. (ohhh wait your not old enough to remember them)



BTW I sent this to NYMETS523 in a private message. I thought I would share the fact that I have now cursed the Mets to another September flame out. I don't care if the M's go 1-161 as long as I get to see Jr. 1 time live this year and the Mets flame out. I don't $hit talk anyones team so don't $hit talk mine. SORRY TO ALL OTHER METS FANS. (I AM KINDA VOO-DOO LIKE THAT) seriously. I hate the Yankees but now hate the METS more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep your children in line. I am angry and happy tonight thank you JR.

[Zagi-CRO]

This trade would raise M's record for 2-3 wins.

[mrakbaseball]

This trade would raise M's record for 2-3 wins.
Not a trade, free agent signing.

[Zagi-CRO]

Not a trade, free agent signing.

ok, thanks....what 'trade' means? from one to another club?

[mrakbaseball]

ok, thanks....what 'trade' means? from one to another club?

A trade is a transaction involving the exchange of players from a team to another team. Griffey was a free agent who simply signed a contract for the 2009 season with the Seattle Mariners.

[gman5431]

You are not a moderator here. If you're not interested in a specific thread ignore it.
It's a good day.

Yeah for real MetsKid, go bother someone else.

Glad to hear Jr. picked Seattle. I was a little suprised because of the geography/family issue and also because ATL has a better chance to win. But i'm happy he picked his second hometown as his final destination and i wish him all the best. I guess we will all see what he has left in the tank. Love the story about the advice from Willie Mays, that was great.

G Man

[Brad Harris]

This is such a great move for the M's. Congratulations guys!

[Paulypal]

I am glad Griffey is going back to Seattle to end his career, but lets make no mistake about it - Griffey is a shadow of what he was, and I dont see him having a huge impact.

Its ironic Mays helped out with that because Mays also took a similar path coming back to NY at the end of his career. Although Griffey isnt as done as Mays was when he came back. I hope I am wrong because I think we all loved watching Griffey play.

[Brad Harris]

I am glad Griffey is going back to Seattle to end his career, but lets make no mistake about it - Griffey is a shadow of what he was, and I dont see him having a huge impact.

Its ironic Mays helped out with that because Mays also took a similar path coming back to NY at the end of his career. Although Griffey isnt as done as Mays was when he came back. I hope I am wrong because I think we all loved watching Griffey play.
I thought so, too, about Mays.

Griffey, however isn't likely going to play 140 games and belt 45 home runs any more, DH or not. That doesn't matter. He's an inexpensive DH with plenty of upside. (If healthy, those numbers aren't impossible, even if unlikely.) He's also going to sell tickets, merchandise, etc. out the yingyang. He's not going to cost the team games and he's not going to cost them money. This is, as Michael Scott would say, win-win-win.

[Paulypal]

I thought so, too, about Mays.

Griffey, however isn't likely going to play 140 games and belt 45 home runs any more, DH or not. That doesn't matter. He's an inexpensive DH with plenty of upside. (If healthy, those numbers aren't impossible, even if unlikely.) He's also going to sell tickets, merchandise, etc. out the yingyang. He's not going to cost the team games and he's not going to cost them money. This is, as Michael Scott would say, win-win-win.

No doubt he is an asset. Hopeully he DH's most of the time in an attempt to keep him healthy and swinging. Its going to be great watching his first game back in Seattle.

[NYMets523]

Sorry my ******* pacific northwest team doesn't have 20 million people to draw fans from. When you reach adulthood then maybe I will value you opinion. Travel the world (or at least the U.S.) or keep your trap shut. Don't talk crap about another persons team. I have been to N.Y. Shea and Yankee and a bunch of other stadiums but I dont ever talk bad about some one elses team. Don't butt your year east coast @$$ in to a subject you have no clue about. We have great pride in Griffey so piss off. Be proud of your 2 world championships. (ohhh wait your not old enough to remember them)



BTW I sent this to NYMETS523 in a private message. I thought I would share the fact that I have now cursed the Mets to another September flame out. I don't care if the M's go 1-161 as long as I get to see Jr. 1 time live this year and the Mets flame out. I don't $hit talk anyones team so don't $hit talk mine. SORRY TO ALL OTHER METS FANS. (I AM KINDA VOO-DOO LIKE THAT) seriously. I hate the Yankees but now hate the METS more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep your children in line. I am angry and happy tonight thank you JR.

You know, upon reflection, mrak and G Man are right. I am sorry and didn't really mean no one cares. However, boisemarinerfan, you need to cool it. One bad comment does not allow another even worse comment. Go pop a Valium or three and come back when you're not shaking like a leaf.

[THE OX]

I doubt very much that this similarity had any influence at all on Junior's decision, but he will join two other HOF'ers (Hank Aaron & Willie Mays) in starting and ending their careers in the town where they started, with one other city in between......

[Captain Cold Nose]

You know, upon reflection, mrak and G Man are right. I am sorry and didn't really mean no one cares. However, boisemarinerfan, you need to cool it. One bad comment does not allow another even worse comment. Go pop a Valium or three and come back when you're not shaking like a leaf.

Easy now. No need to push things further. Relax would have been sufficient.

[sturg1dj]

this is a little off topic and I mean no disrespect to the poster; but am I the only one that hates when "Breaking News' is used on a board? Sure, it may have been breaking news...and sure you are excited about it and I am happy for all of you excited Mariners fans, since all of us baseball fans need good news.

But at this point of my reply it is no longer breaking news. Tomorrow it will probably be on the first page and it will still not be breaking news. A year from now it will be able to be found in the archives, and it will not be breaking news.

just something that bugs me.

but congrads to the Mariners.

[Ghumbs]

I doubt very much that this similarity had any influence at all on Junior's decision, but he will join two other HOF'ers (Hank Aaron & Willie Mays) in starting and ending their careers in the town where they started, with one other city in between......

Ah, but Griffey had Cincinnati and Chicago...two cities :D

[Captain Cold Nose]

this is a little off topic and I mean no disrespect to the poster; but am I the only one that hates when "Breaking News' is used on a board? Sure, it may have been breaking news...and sure you are excited about it and I am happy for all of you excited Mariners fans, since all of us baseball fans need good news.

But at this point of my reply it is no longer breaking news. Tomorrow it will probably be on the first page and it will still not be breaking news. A year from now it will be able to be found in the archives, and it will not be breaking news.

just something that bugs me.

but congrads to the Mariners.

If it was not a HOF-caliber player such as Griffey who has national name recognition well beyond the home environs, it wouldn't even be Current Event as we have it. It's arguably a better fit for the Mariners forum, as it would have been a better fit for the Braves forum should he have signed there. Regardless of his current play being nowhere close to what it was only a few years ago, the name factor takes play here. If the Mariners had signed Sol Taguchi, it wouldn't go here.

But, yes, this is hardly breaking news. The speculation has been weeks old.

[sturg1dj]

If it was not a HOF-caliber player such as Griffey who has national name recognition well beyond the home environs, it wouldn't even be Current Event as we have it. It's arguably a better fit for the Mariners forum, as it would have been a better fit for the Braves forum should he have signed there. Regardless of his current play being nowhere close to what it was only a few years ago, the name factor takes play here. If the Mariners had signed Sol Taguchi, it wouldn't go here.

But, yes, this is hardly breaking news. The speculation has been weeks old.

I can understand putting it into current events since I have been in that position before with Detroit Tiger news where I wanted to discuss it with more than the 4-5 regulars in the Tigers board.

[Captain Cold Nose]

I can understand putting it into current events since I have been in that position before with Detroit Tiger news where I wanted to discuss it with more than the 4-5 regulars in the Tigers board.

There's more than 4-5 of us. Some know enough to be 3-4 people all by themself.
So that's 12-20 right there, plus the rest of us.

[sturg1dj]

There's more than 4-5 of us. Some know enough to be 3-4 people all by themself.
So that's 12-20 right there, plus the rest of us.

haha, maybe during the season.......maybe

[joshfan]

I am glad Griffey is going back to Seattle to end his career, but lets make no mistake about it - Griffey is a shadow of what he was, and I dont see him having a huge impact.

Its ironic Mays helped out with that because Mays also took a similar path coming back to NY at the end of his career. Although Griffey isnt as done as Mays was when he came back. I hope I am wrong because I think we all loved watching Griffey play.

Wow dark day, I was 13 saw him as a Met DROP a routine 8
but if I were he ,I'd be trying to play too
Too bad Willie didn't have the dh as others did