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6/14/08
Ken Griffey Jr. Is Apparently Interested In Going To The Tampa Bay Rays
Junior To The Rays? It's Entirely Possible.
Not all that long ago, getting traded to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays would have been considered a fate worse than death.

My how times have changed.

With the Rays having their best year ever, and being only 1.5 games behind the Red Sox, suddenly Tampa doesn't seem like a bad location to get traded to.

Even better, some people are actually looking to get traded. According to SI's Jon Heyman, word is that Ken Griffey Jr. is more than open to going to Rays if they can hang in there.
Griffey, 39, has a no-trade clause but has told intimates that if the Rays stay in the race, he'd consider waiving his veto power to go home. Or close to home, anyway. Tampa is much nearer his Orlando-area residence than any other big-league city. Griffey's tony Isleworth community is about an hour from St. Petersburg, where the Rays play.
In all honesty, the move makes a lot of sense. The Reds have clearly been recharging with a youth movement and are still at least a year from contention. It's also believed by baseball insiders that the Reds will indeed be looking to trade Griffey this year, likely sometime after the All Star game.

You may also remember the Rays briefly considered signing Barry Bonds early on this season, but decided against it. I admittedly think that was a more than solid move by the Rays.

Griffey of course doesn't have any of the baggage of Bonds and he's always been a great teammate, so the idea that Griffey could disrupt their momentum seems unlikely. Provided the Rays don't have to give up too much for him, he'd likely be a great addition.

Since the Rays don't have a set right fielder, there's already a spot available for him. And of course Griffey could always DH.

Feel free to weigh in with your thoughts about this potential trade.

Would Griffey consider being dealt to the surprising Rays? [SI]
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386 days ago
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That'd be a fine move.

After watching him ground into an inning-ending DP on 3-0 count fifteen minutes ago, my impulses tell me he can't get out of town quickly enough.

Cincy needs the extra cash, anyway.  I hope the Rays would be willing to absorb the contract.
 
386 days ago
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RenegadeLG wrote:
He can't hit NL pitching, he's not going to help the Rays.  Did you just use your other "probable rumor" template and replace "Barry Bonds" with "Ken Griffey Jr." and "Beantown" with Tampa?
This isn't my rumor. This is Jon Heyman of SI's rumor. And there's plenty about it that makes a ton of sense.

And even though Griffey can't hit NL pitching that well, Tampa has no right fielder. If I had to choose between no right fielder and Griffey, I'd take Griffey.
 
385 days ago
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RenegadeLG wrote:
I realize it's not a sexy name, but Gabe Gross is hitting the ball well lately, and is playing at least as well as Junior (.282, 3 HR, 8 RBI over his last 10 - what more do you need from the bottom of the lineup?).  If it means giving up prospects, they shouldn't even consider it.

Not to mention the fact that, *crosses fingers*, Rocco Baldelli is taking Extended Spring Training ABs and may be back by July.
Your points are certainly valid. There's also the issue of Griffey's salary and does Tampa want to pay it.

It'll be interesting to see. I'm not sure I could fault the Rays for going either way - unless of course, as you said, they wind up giving up too many prospects.

And as for Baldelli, also known as "The Human Injury Machine", I'd never trust him. Guy just can't stay healthy.
 
385 days ago
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RenegadeLG wrote:
Yeah, that's why my fingers are crossed.  He's the offensive Mark Prior.  Easily one of the most talented players in the game though.
Totally agree. Awesomely talented, but has Mark Prior syndrome.
 
385 days ago
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RenegadeLG wrote:
Yeah, that's why my fingers are crossed.  He's the offensive Mark Prior.  Easily one of the most talented players in the game though.
We might want to cross toes in the case of Baldelli, as well.
 
384 days ago
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Griffey here in Tampa would be a HUGE boost.
 
384 days ago
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RenegadeLG wrote:
Maybe in terms of buzz, but do you honestly think he'll help the team make the playoffs?
Absolutely, he could be that little extra spark the team needs under their a**.
 
384 days ago
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RenegadeLG wrote:
He's batting .245 in the NL.
He wouldn't be in the NL.....His NL career AVG is only .271 in the NL vs .299 for the AL. Plus, if he were to go to the Rays, he would probably be a DH.
 
384 days ago
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RenegadeLG wrote:
Hmmm, not sure how that matters.  His career average in the NL is lower because he wasn't injured in the AL, and was in the AL during his prime - that still doesn't take away from the fact that the pitching is far superior in the AL and especially in the ALE. 

Although your notes made me realize something - he's not even close to a career .300 hitter.  That's unbelievable.  He would have shattered the HR record despite being an average hitter had he stayed healthy.  And since he's a career .289 hitter, .245 isn't that bad.

If Frank Thomas can continue to spark teams, Griffey should be able to as well, but I stand by the fact Tampa better not give up prospects for him.  Straight up for Jonny Gomes or something.
I'd take that....
 
 
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