Sox: Griffey expected to join team today
MINNEAPOLIS - "White Sox acquire future Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr.''
That was the blaring headline on the Sox' news release Thursday afternoon when the trade for the 13-time all-star became official.
There is zero doubt Griffey is going to the Cooperstown on the first ballot.
"I had his poster on my bedroom wall when I was a kid,'' gushed White Sox outfielder/first baseman Nick Swisher.
While he's one of the greatest talents ever to play major-league baseball, the 38-year-old Griffey still is going pretty strong, and the White Sox are looking to the legend for help in getting to the postseason.
Before approving the deal that sent him to the Sox in exchange for relief pitcher Nick Masset and minor-league second baseman Danny Richar, Griffey had a 12-game hitting streak for the Cincinnati Reds.
Overall, the sweet-swinging lefty is batting .245 with 15 home runs and 53 RBI in 102 games. "Junior' also has a .355 on-base percentage.
In addition to Masset and Richar to the Reds, the White Sox are sending Cincinnati some money.
It has been widely reported that the Sox are picking up half of the roughly $4 million remaining on Griffey's contract this season, but they are only paying the prorated minimum salary ($390,000).
The White Sox also agreed to pay half of Griffey's $4 million buyout for 2009. Griffey has a $16.5 million option for next season, but there is no chance that's going to be exercised.
It's difficult not to be awed by Griffey's 608 career home runs - sixth most in history - but White Sox general manager Kenny Williams denied that motivated him to make the splashy move.
"I don't get caught up in the names,'' Williams said. "I get caught up more in fits and need. In this particular case, it's not going to hurt that guys know there's another weapon that can be used.''
While he is still a presence, Griffey admittedly is in the twilight of his stellar career.
"When I talked to Junior, he was very honest, and that's what we want from our players,'' Williams said. "He said, 'I've got to tell you, I don't know that you're going to see the guy from Seattle.' ''
When he played for the Seattle Mariners from 1989-99, Griffey twice hit 56 home runs in a season and drove in 100 or more runs seven times.
"I said, 'We're not looking for that guy from Seattle,' '' Williams said. "'What we're looking for is for you to use your instincts.' ''
Griffey is expected to join the White Sox today and be in the lineup against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Ozzie Guillen said Griffey is likely to bat seventh.
"I don't know if he's going to move up later or move down or stay in the same spot,'' Guillen said.
With Griffey on board, two slumping Sox hitters - Paul Konerko and Swisher - are facing a platoon situation at first base. Had either Konerko or Swisher hit with more authority during the first four months of the season, the Griffey trade probably doesn't happen.
"We have by no means given up on Nick Swisher or Paul Konerko,'' Williams said. "But what we had to recognize is that they've struggled. Part of our responsibility is to put the best club on the field on a given day. So if you have a player, or a couple of players, that are struggling, for the team's sake you owe it to the rest of the team to try to get as good as you possibly can.
"Griffey, who will wear Swisher's uniform No. 30, batted .275 and had 4 home runs, 14 RBI and 15 walks in July.
"Any time you can add a veteran leader on offense to a lineup that's pretty stacked now, it helps this team out and hopefully it puts us over the hump,'' right fielder Jermaine Dye said. "You know what, we felt like what we had in this clubhouse was good. But if something was to be added, management thought this was the missing piece of the puzzle. He's a great guy, a Hall of Fame person, and a great addition to this ballclub.''
Griffey has won 10 Gold Gloves during his 20-year career, but he has been playing right field for the Reds the last two seasons. He will return to center with the White Sox.
"Center field is actually the easiest of the outfield positions to play from a health perspective,'' Williams said. "I know that doesn't sound right because you've got to go a lot to the left and right, but trust me, it's a little easier to play center field. Instinctually, we feel he's going to give us at least what we were getting out there.''
The Sox think Griffey is going to bring some added motivation since he has never won a World Series ring.
"He can come here, we can make the playoffs, do well, and he can get that ring,'' Konerko said. "At the end of the day that's really all he doesn't have. That goes for Jim (Thome), too.''
Ken Griffey Jr. by the numbers
Age: 38
Size: 6-foot-3, 230 pounds
Contract: In final year of a $116.5 million deal for nine years. $16.4 million option for 2009 with $4 million buyout.
2008 season: .245 BA, .355 OBP, with 51 runs, 88 hits, 15 HR, 53 RBI.
July: .271 BA, .386 OBP, with 15 runs, 23 hits, 6 HR, 17 RBI
Last 10 games: .324 BA, with 7 runs, 12 hits, 3 HR, 8 RBI
Career numbers
MLB seasons: 20
Games: 2,480
At bats: 9,185
Hits: 2,646
Home runs: 608
RBI: 1,754
OBP: .373
SLG: .549
BA: .288
<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Video</h2> <ul class="video"> <li><a href="/multimedia/?category=23&type=video&item=13">What fans think of the deal </a></li> </ul> <h2>Related links</h2> <ul class="moreWeb"> <li><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=115135" target="new">Griffey on MLB.com </a></li> <li><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=434665" target="new">Masset on MLB.com </a></li> <li><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=462950" target="new">Richar on MLB.com </a></li> </ul> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=224680">Griffey expected to join team today</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=225119">Griffey's stay at home more bitter than sweet</a></li> </ul> <h2>Photo Galleries</h2> <ul class="gallery"> <li><a href="/multimedia/?category=23&type=slideshow&item=18">Ken Griffey Jr. </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>