posted on Thursday, July 31, 2008 9:57 AM by Jim

White Sox, Reds have deal in place for Griffey

UPDATE:  The White Sox will send second baseman Danny Richar and reliever Nick Masset to the Reds, says here.

And Griffey OK'd the deal.

My God.

It's happening again!

Ken Griffey Jr. has never played in a World Series. He might be on the verge of getting his chance.

The Reds have traded Griffey to the White Sox, pending his approval. Griffey will decide Thursday morning whether he will approve the deal, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. It is not known what the Reds would receive in return.

The White Sox and the Cincinnati Reds had tried to make a deal for Griffey since 2005, but that was way back when 1) Griffey was three years younger, and 2) the Sox could've used his bat in a big way.

(Note: The following section was written without any idea of who the Sox would be sending to Cincinnati.  This is all subject to change and possibly rage.)

Now?  I really can't think of how the White Sox would have use for him, because for as much as we poke fun at Jermaine Dye's defense, Griffey makes Dye look like Roberto Clemente.

Robert Clemente ... with rocket shoes.

Without getting into defensive metrics, does anybody remember what Griffey looked like in center when the White Sox swept the Reds in Cincinnati back in 2006?  Here's a refresher:

June 17, 2006
June 18, 2006

And those represented only half of the misreads over those two days.  Now, he's two years older, and since then hasn't proven himself any more able to handle right field.  He's ranked in the bottom quarter in UZR (which goes back to 2003, when he was better).

Plus-Minus isn't any kinder -- it ranked him -26 in center when he played there two years ago, and -4 (part-time) and -11 in right the last two years.  A healthy Dye is breaking even this year, by comparison.  And Cincy's ballpark plays pretty small; Comerica Park it ain't.

So barring the occasional spell in right, there really isn't any reason for him to be playing the outfield unless an injury or two precedes him.  And even still, there's no way he should touch center.  He may as well have "Mackowiak" on his back.

Griffey doesn't provide any relief at the DH spot, either.  Jim Thome, is still hitting southpaws slightly better since he got hot in June in terms of OPS, and he's about even overall:
  • vs. RHP: .259/.398/.467
  • vs. LHP: .250/.351/.573
He's still susceptible to LOOGYs, but Griffey isn't relief in that case.  Here are his splits:
  • vs. RHP: .261/.373/.452
  • vs. LHP: .212/.313/.390
The Sox had a bigger need for a right-handed bat off the bench.  If no other moves happen, the only way to get Griffey into the lineup regularly is if Thome or Dye can man first base.  Thome hurt himself the last time, and Dye has only played one game there.  That would be also be giving up on Paul Konerko, which Guillen seems reluctant to do.

(I'm pretending that there's no chance Griffey would play center, because for all intents and purposes, he can't.  Aside from two innings over his career, he hasn't played first, either. Or third.  Or any other position in which he might be a clear upgrade at this time.)

Griffey's making $12.5 million this year, and the Sox would hold a club option for $16.5 million for 2009 with a $4 million buyout.  That's pricier than either of Thome's options -- $13 million for 2009 with a $3 million buyout.  Thome is 169 plate appearances away from triggering that option automatically.  He's averaging four plate appearances a game, so he's about 42 games away from guaranteeing next season's deal.

The one piece of good news is that Griffey is actually having a good month -- .927 OPS in July, and .293/.388/.621 over his last 16 games.  But I can't think of another move that would free up a spot for him to see regular at-bats, unless there's an injury or trade that we aren't aware of.  It would be decent insurance, but insurance for an event that has yet to happen.

Especially since he can't play center.  I know this is the fifth time I've said this, but it needs to be hammered home.  He can't.  He can't.  He can't.

Comments

# re: White Sox, Reds have deal in place for Griffey

Thursday, July 31, 2008 9:08 AM by BPG
On paper I like it. It will be interesting to see what they have to give up for him. How many years does Griffey have left on his contract though?

# re: White Sox, Reds have deal in place for Griffey

Thursday, July 31, 2008 9:40 AM by Jeff from AH
Call me a conspiracy theorist, but part of me believes a contributing factor (not the sole purpose) for this deal may be to slow the burn of Thome's plate appearances. Prior to this trade and of course barring injury, Jimbo was well on pace to eclipse the mark where an option for '09 would be an automatic $14MM. Griffey Jr. provides greater flexiblity and unlike the current version of Pual Konerko who if subbing for DH, a productive Thome and healthy Griffey are comparable.

# re: White Sox, Reds have deal in place for Griffey

Thursday, July 31, 2008 9:57 AM by Jim Margalus
I suppose that's possible, but I'm not seeing the advantage of bringing in Griffey. He's got a $4 million buyout, which would take out a huge chunk of the money Philly threw in the Thome-Rowand deal to pay for the option, anyway. Konerko is the real issue regarding the 2009 season.

# re: White Sox, Reds have deal in place for Griffey

Thursday, July 31, 2008 10:05 AM by Jim Margalus
I also have no clue whether he'd accept the deal. He hasn't won a ring and won't in Cincinnati, but he prefers it there for his family.

(Although it might affect his legacy if he doesn't give it a shot. People still rip on Rafael Palmeiro for doing the same thing.)

# re: White Sox, Reds have deal in place for Griffey

Thursday, July 31, 2008 10:36 AM by biganutz
The deals not final, if we do get Griffey he will probably cut into Paul Konerkos playing time. Which means Swisher will move to first. Pauly has been having a horrible year, maybe he'll get traded.

# re: White Sox, Reds have deal in place for Griffey

Thursday, July 31, 2008 11:05 AM by striker
I think we'll see a rotation of Dye, Swisher, Griffey, Thome and Konerko at CF, RF, 1B and DH. Those guys are all old and can use an extra days rest during the week.

I doubt Griffey is going to be used to cut into Thome's plate appearances so he misses his option. That would be completely classless, especially since Thome has rebounded well from a slow start.

# re: White Sox, Reds have deal in place for Griffey

Thursday, July 31, 2008 11:12 AM by Jim Margalus
I can't find it anywhere, but here's what somebody said on BTF:

The White Sox will send second baseman Danny Richar and reliever Nick Masset to the Reds.

# re: White Sox, Reds have deal in place for Griffey

Thursday, July 31, 2008 11:29 AM by Jim Margalus
Griffey OK'd the trade.

# re: White Sox, Reds have deal in place for Griffey

Thursday, July 31, 2008 11:30 AM by Salty Dog
Well, if the Richar and Masset thing is true, that's not bad.

So far, I see this pending deal as a non-event. A big, loud, overblown non-event. We gain nothing substantial, we lose nothing substantial. All that's generated is headlines. Big deal.

This seems to fit in the the Sox's Adopt-A-Slugger program that they've been running for a while now. Bo Jackson, Albert Belle, Jose Canseco, Jim Thome - now Griffey Jr.? It fits.

# re: White Sox, Reds have deal in place for Griffey

Thursday, July 31, 2008 11:37 AM by Jim Margalus
Pretty much. But hey, the Reds are also picking up the $4 million left on his contract.

# re: White Sox, Reds have deal in place for Griffey

Thursday, July 31, 2008 11:47 AM by shoelessjoakim
This morning on the radio, Stone suggested that this was part of a larger trade that Williams was working on with Oakland--a trade that could see Swisher headed back to the A's for Huston Street.

# re: White Sox, Reds have deal in place for Griffey

Thursday, July 31, 2008 1:47 PM by onlysoxfaninboston
i think a swisher/street trade would be dicked up. swisher's contract is super favorable, i can't see kdub giving him up for relief help, even if it is street, and isn't street on the decline?

# re: White Sox, Reds have deal in place for Griffey

Thursday, July 31, 2008 3:32 PM by MattTheRock
For the love of God, Swisher better not be going anywhere. He's cheap, productive and controllable. Street is unreliable, erratic, and well... crap so far. I don't know what Oakland would throw in to make it worthwhile. Sounds like talk radio b.s. to me...

# re: White Sox, Reds have deal in place for Griffey

Thursday, July 31, 2008 4:00 PM by Jim Margalus
No kidding. Plus, it would essentially make the deal Sweeney, Gio and Fautino for Street? Doesn't make a lick of sense.

# re: White Sox, Reds have deal in place for Griffey

Thursday, July 31, 2008 6:00 PM by dudeman
This is a no-brainer for the Sox. From now on, every game we play against a right-handed starter Thome plays first and Griffey DH's. That alone takes our most useless bat (Konerko) out of the lineup and replaces it with a guy who still mashes righties. And he can occasionaly spell Dye in right if need be.

I don't want to hear any shit about Thome getting hurt at first. We are in a dogfight here, boys. It ain't a marathon anymore either. Get your best team on the field every damn day until we clinch this thing.

# re: White Sox, Reds have deal in place for Griffey

Thursday, July 31, 2008 6:04 PM by jgelfand
Any reason why Griffey can't play first?

# re: White Sox, Reds have deal in place for Griffey

Thursday, July 31, 2008 6:16 PM by dudeman
Uummm... he isn't a first baseman?
Thome has played there tons and Swish has done it plenty too. Why would griffey even be considered there?

# re: White Sox, Reds have deal in place for Griffey

Thursday, July 31, 2008 8:10 PM by chisoxt
Jim from AH.....I was thinking of the same thing.

Frankly, I am surprised that either side (Thome and/or the Sox) has not appraoched each other to renegotiate a one year deal for less dollars next year and perhaps a buyout option for 2010.

# re: White Sox, Reds have deal in place for Griffey

Thursday, July 31, 2008 8:55 PM by Jim Margalus
"Thome has played there tons and Swish has done it plenty too. Why would griffey even be considered there?"

Necessity is the mother of invention. Not so much for the Sox, but for Griffey. He's the fourth-best outfielder on this team, and the worst defensively. He's also the second-best DH by far. So he'd be best served learning a new skill.

If Thome has to play first, then he must. But I'd get Griffey warmed up there, because if you can protect Thome while playing him every day, you do so. No point in taking an unnecessary risk if there's still a way to give him ABs.

# re: White Sox, Reds have deal in place for Griffey

Thursday, July 31, 2008 10:11 PM by dudeman
Jim, I have to disagree. We need to play to win every single game until we clinch. We are not a better team with Jr. at first. He is not a first baseman. Jim Thome is, Swisher is. This is not time for experiments, and this is not time for "protecting" anyone from the supposed hazards of playing first base.

I don't understand why people are lukewarm about this trade (not just here, but in general). We essentially just traded Masset for Ken Griffey Jr., as far as this year's team goes. This is not a bad thing, and it doesn't create problems. It makes us better.

Like I said, if properly used (primarily as a DH vs righties with Thome moving to first) this makes our lineup better, and I think significantly so.
i love Kenny. i knew he would do something. i love him.

# re: White Sox, Reds have deal in place for Griffey

Thursday, July 31, 2008 10:17 PM by Jim Margalus
I'm not saying throw Griffey into the fire -- but I would definitely gauge his ability. He doesn't feel comfortable playing center (KW seems more confident than Griffey), so it'd be a benefit for him if he took some reps.

But I only think people are lukewarm because they can't figure out the ABs. That, and Kenny says that Griffey will be playing center, a prospect of which I am downright frightened. That feeling, however, is outweighed by Masset not being around.