Nightengale's Griffey/ Sox update

[beck72]

from this weeks Sports Weekly p. 13.

 

"Ears Wide Open": bob nightengale

 

"Cin. Reds CFer Ken Griffey Jr talked to his family last weekend and says he may be open to accepting a trade to the White sox if he clears waivers."

 

other excerpts:

further talk that said according to 6 Sox and reds officials "a deal was completed and approved by Reinsdorf and the Reds president John Allen"

 

"Teams plan to revisit the deal if Lidner changes his mind."

 

""Junior is open to the possibility" according to his agent

 

"We orginally gave he Reds 3 teams that we would accept a deal, but that's not to say we wouldn't listen to the White Sox."

 

"the only issue is that he'll be spending six weeks in Tucson. but that doesn't preclude us from listening. And he will listen."

[Mr. Showtime]

EARS WIDE OPEN

Cincinnati Reds center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. talked to his family last weekend and says he may be open to accepting a trade to the Chicago White Sox, if he clears waivers.

 

The White Sox and Reds completed a deal before the non-waiver deadline that would have sent outfielder Chris Young, first baseman Casey Rogowski and prospects to Cincinnati for Griffey. The trade included the Reds picking up at least $15 million of Griffey's remaining $41.5 million through 2008. But after the deal was completed and approved by White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf and Reds president John Allen, Reds owner Carl Lindner nixed the deal the following day.

 

Six high-ranking White Sox and Reds officials, including those close to Reinsdorf and Allen, confirmed the deal. The teams plan to revisit the deal if Lindner changes his mind.

 

"Junior is open to the possibility," said Brian Goldberg, Griffey's agent. "Originally, it caught us by surprise because we didn't know anything about it until we read it. We originally gave the Reds three teams that we would accept a deal (believed to be the Yankees, Braves and Astros), but that's not to say we wouldn't listen to the White Sox.

 

"Junior's first reaction is that the town is fine, the organization is fine, the people that run the organization are fine, but the only issue is that he'll be spending six weeks in Tucson (the White Sox's spring-training site in Arizona). But that doesn't preclude us from listening. And he will listen."

[beck72]

Thank you for the link

[nitetrain8601]

Thanks for the notes. I really wish it would happen because we have a non-existant offense.

[HighHeat45]

What does Griffey have against Tucson?

[beck72]

What does Griffey have against Tucson?

Griffey lives in FLa and would like to have ST there as well

[Gene Honda Civic]

What does Griffey have against Tucson?

Tuscon is a solid 2 hours away from anything, not to mention it's not in florida.

[SuperSteve]

That is such a petty reason IMHO.

[RockRaines]

Whatev, I will personally pay for his flights home every other day to FLA if he would come to the sox. s***, make that part of his contract. Just get him goddamnit

[Dick Allen]

That is such a petty reason IMHO.

 

Its 6 weeks to be with his family, and he was given partial no-trade rights when he signed a contract that was at the time for him well below market value.

[JUGGERNAUT]

That was reported in the USA Today as well. He has a home in Orlando where his family spends their off-season time. But I don't think ST will be a problem because you can take the family with you. Nearly all of the ST games are in the Tucson-Pheonix area & the weather is not bad that time of year.

 

There are two other reports this week that could have bearing on this trade. The first is a report that the Reds GM will be fired this winter. The second is that the 4 OF crew is not happy. All 4 players are good enough to start on other teams. They can't see this situation existing in 2006.

 

The money of the deal is essentially the White Sox are on the hook for $30M/3 yr. That's salary + 2009 buyout option. The talent of the deal was Young, Rogowski, & prospects. All but the Reds owner Carl Linder approved the deal. It is said that Reds President Allen continues to talk to Linder about re-visiting the deal. As for Griffey Jr he reportedly approved the trade.

 

His short list (believed to be NYY, ATL, & HOU) all do their spring thing near Orlando but I'm sure the White Sox can talk Griffey Jr into bringing the family to Tucson for those 6 weeks.

 

The feeling of the deal is that $20-23M/yr spent on Griffey+Kong for those 3 yrs in addition to the team we have now would make the White Sox serious WS contenders. The two would share duties at 1B+DH. The only question then would be to pick up Everett's option for $7M. If the White Sox win the WS that goes w/out question.

 

As for Thomas' role in all this it might be the best thing for him to sit out a whole year & then try it again in 2007. I think it goes w/out saying the White Sox will give him a WS ring if the team should win it & they still would like to see him hit his 500th HR as a White Sox. Thomas might just sign a ml contract in 2006 during which he tries to rehab the ankle.

 

Because Everett, Griffey Jr, & Thomas have all proven to be injury prone of late keeping them all in the organization is good insurance.

Edited August 10, 2005 by JUGGERNAUT

[RockRaines]

s***, I will rent him and his family a freakin mansion in Tuscon, scottsdale, vegas, wherever. Just please come to the sox, please!!!

[nitetrain8601]

Couple of notes from Chicago Tribune Live:

 

1)Griffey is as of now on waivers according to Bruce Levine.

2)Griffey has no problem with Chicago.

3)Griffey and his family actually visit Chicago a couple of times of years.

[southsideirish71]

Couple of notes from Chicago Tribune Live:

 

1)Griffey is as of now on waivers according to Bruce Levine.

2)Griffey has no problem with Chicago.

3)Griffey and his family actually visit Chicago a couple of times of years.

 

 

Please clear waivers and please please come to the whitesox.

 

We get Griffey and we get a WS. He will do what Thomas does when he is healthy. He will instantly not only give us a bat in the lineup, but someone who gets hitters around them better pitches to hit.

[nitetrain8601]

Please clear waivers and please please come to the whitesox.

 

We get Griffey and we get a WS.  He will do what Thomas does when he is healthy.  He will instantly not only give us a bat in the lineup, but someone who gets hitters around them better pitches to hit.

 

That's what I said. Let's hope the Yankees feel the season is pretty much lost with Steinbrenner ripping Torre, Sox taking 2 of 3 from them and Pavano out for another 6 weeks. That's the only real competition I see for getting Griffey.

 

Please god let this happen. Please, please please.

[JUGGERNAUT]

Looking at the MLB transaction list it appears that a player gets put on the waiver wire when a team designates him for assignment. There is no "put on waivers" transaction.

 

If another team claims him off waivers that day they'll forgo the report of the player being designated for assignment & just report the team claiming the player off waivers & the trade being worked out.

 

Levine seems to have gotten it wrong again. If KGJ has been DFA'd then I don't believe he would have been eligible to play in today's game. His 2 RBI day says otherwise.

[Ozzie Montana]

Sorry nitetrain8601, didnt see you posted it but ill do it anyways just in case someone misses it.

Bruce Levine said Griffey has been put on waivers but he said that it is a pipedream that he comes to the White Sox and says he would look good at DH and that Griffey never had a problem coming to Chicago. No Duh.

All this on AM1000 after the Bears talk. They will show what Griffey had to say about coming to Chicago and also Bruce Levine is coming up.

Edited August 10, 2005 by Ozzie Montana

[Ozzie Montana]

Junior says he enjoys coming to Chicago. Levine says he probably WILL NOT come to the White Sox.

[nitetrain8601]

Junior says he enjoys coming to Chicago.  Levine says he probably WILL NOT come to the White Sox.

 

 

Why God Why?!?!?!?!?!

[JUGGERNAUT]

Levine is full of crap. He's not on the waiver list. That's makes ZERO sense.

The owner vetoes a trade before the deadline but ok's putting KGJ out on waivers just to dump his contract? Levine's an idiot.

 

If he is on waivers it's 3 days. If after 3 days no one claim's him then the Reds can work a trade directly with the White Sox.

[Kalapse]

I will say this for the last time. IMO Ken Griffey Jr. will NOT be claimed by any team. He will clear waivers, that does not mean he'll come to the Sox, all it means is that the Reds will have full power to trade him to what ever team they wish if they want.

[nitetrain8601]

I will say this for the last time. IMO Ken Griffey Jr. will NOT be claimed by any team. He will clear waivers, that does not mean he'll come to the Sox, all it means is that the Reds will have full power to trade him to what ever team they wish if they want.

 

That is what probably happens. The only real team I could see going after him is the White Sox, so it would only make sense if they just let him clear waivers and try to work out a trade instead of just claiming all of his contract.

[BigSqwert]

The only real team I could see going after him is the White Sox, so it would only make sense if they just let him clear waivers and try to work out a trade instead of just claiming all of his contract.

 

According to a good friend of mine...who happens to be a die-hard Cards fan, says the Cards are interested in him because of their injuries to Sanders and Walker.

Edited August 10, 2005 by BigSqwert

[Steff]

Here's some waiver info..

 

Quote:

If a player placed on Major League waivers is not claimed by another team during the three business days after waivers have been requested, then the players is said to have "cleared waivers," and the team has secured waivers for the remainder of the waiver period.

 

And what does that mean? Essentially, the team can do with the player's contract as it pleases. This generally means one of three things:

 

(1) They can send him to the minors (subject to his consent, if he's a "Veteran Player," more on that below).

 

(2) They can release him, which makes the player a free agent and thus available to sign with any team.

 

(3) They can trade him to another team, even if the so-called "trading deadline" has passed. Any trades made after July 31 may only involve players who have cleared waivers.

 

If a player doesn't clear waivers -- in other words, if he's claimed by another team or teams -- the club requesting waivers may withdraw the waiver request.

 

If the club doesn't withdraw the waiver request, the player's contract is assigned in the following manner:

 

 

 

(A) If only one claim is entered, the player's contract is assigned to that claiming club.

 

(B) If more than one club in the same league makes claims, the club currently lower in the standings gets the player.

 

© If clubs in both leagues claim the player, preference shall always go to the club in the same league as the club requesting waivers.

 

 

 

Apparently his agent, who states he IS on waivers :rolly , says Griffey has no issues with Chicago but who knows that could just be lip service.

[southsider2k5]

Levine is full of crap.  He's not on the waiver list.  That's makes ZERO sense.

The owner vetoes a trade before the deadline but ok's putting KGJ out on waivers just to dump his contract?  Levine's an idiot.

 

If he is on waivers it's 3 days.  If after 3 days no one claim's him then the Reds can work a trade directly with the White Sox.

 

Actually if you understand the August trade market, every single player on every team goes onto the waiver wire at one time. Teams use it to gauge who is interested in what players and they throw everyone on there to try to hide the names of players they want to trade.