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Griffey approves trade to White Sox; Reds, Chicago await league OK
July 31, 2008
CBSSports.com wire reports
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CINCINNATI -- Ken Griffey Jr. agreed Thursday to accept a trade to the Chicago White Sox, leaving it up to the commissioner's office to approve the deal because money is involved, sources confirmed to CBSSports.com.
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.The Cincinnati Reds outfielder had the right to block any deal, but agreed to move to the White Sox after getting more information about the proposed trade on Wednesday morning. The person familiar with the talks spoke on condition of anonymity because the teams are not commenting.
Griffey joined his hometown team before the 2000 season, agreeing to a nine-year, $116.5 million deal after being traded from Seattle. The 38-year-old outfielder makes $12.5 million this season, and there's an option for 2009 at a $16.5 million salary. If a team doesn't want to pick up next year's option, Griffey will be owed a $4 million buyout under his contract.
Griffey became the sixth player to reach 600 career homers this season, but has struggled at the plate. He's batting .245 with 15 homers and 53 RBI despite playing in one of the most homer-friendly ballparks in Cincinnati.
The Reds were interested in dealing Griffey because of the size of his contract and their plummet after the All-Star break, which dropped them back to the bottom of the NL Central. The Reds haven't had a winning season since 2000.
The Reds will get infielder Danny Richar and right-handed pitcher Nick Masset in the deal, sources told Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com. Cincinnati will also pay the remaining $4 million on Griffey's contract.
According to Knobler, it's believed the White Sox intend to play Griffey in center field, a position he hasn't played since 2006. The slumping Nick Swisher would move to first base, sharing time with Paul Konerko, whose own slump has been even worse.
The White Sox have tried to trade for Griffey before, but Thursday's deal still caught many people by surprise.
The White Sox have been in first place since the middle of May, but the Twins have closed the gap to 1½ games and the Tigers have also been playing better. Manager Ozzie Guillen has at various times expressed concern about his offense, and this week he talked openly about sitting Konerko more often.
Konerko is 14-for-66 (.212) since he came off the disabled list on July 8.
Richar, who turned 25 last month, played 56 games at second base for the White Sox last year. He's hitting .262 at Triple-A Charlotte, with nine home runs and 39 RBI.
The 26-year-old Masset has appeared in 32 games this year for the White Sox, with a 4.63 ERA. He has been used mostly out of the bullpen, but was a starter in the minor leagues and has started two big-league games.
CBSSports.com Senior Writer Danny Knobler contributed to this report.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
Copyright 2007-2008, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved
July 31, 2008
CBSSports.com wire reports
Share this page.
CINCINNATI -- Ken Griffey Jr. agreed Thursday to accept a trade to the Chicago White Sox, leaving it up to the commissioner's office to approve the deal because money is involved, sources confirmed to CBSSports.com.
Advertisement
Click here to find out more!
.The Cincinnati Reds outfielder had the right to block any deal, but agreed to move to the White Sox after getting more information about the proposed trade on Wednesday morning. The person familiar with the talks spoke on condition of anonymity because the teams are not commenting.
Griffey joined his hometown team before the 2000 season, agreeing to a nine-year, $116.5 million deal after being traded from Seattle. The 38-year-old outfielder makes $12.5 million this season, and there's an option for 2009 at a $16.5 million salary. If a team doesn't want to pick up next year's option, Griffey will be owed a $4 million buyout under his contract.
Griffey became the sixth player to reach 600 career homers this season, but has struggled at the plate. He's batting .245 with 15 homers and 53 RBI despite playing in one of the most homer-friendly ballparks in Cincinnati.
The Reds were interested in dealing Griffey because of the size of his contract and their plummet after the All-Star break, which dropped them back to the bottom of the NL Central. The Reds haven't had a winning season since 2000.
The Reds will get infielder Danny Richar and right-handed pitcher Nick Masset in the deal, sources told Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com. Cincinnati will also pay the remaining $4 million on Griffey's contract.
According to Knobler, it's believed the White Sox intend to play Griffey in center field, a position he hasn't played since 2006. The slumping Nick Swisher would move to first base, sharing time with Paul Konerko, whose own slump has been even worse.
The White Sox have tried to trade for Griffey before, but Thursday's deal still caught many people by surprise.
The White Sox have been in first place since the middle of May, but the Twins have closed the gap to 1½ games and the Tigers have also been playing better. Manager Ozzie Guillen has at various times expressed concern about his offense, and this week he talked openly about sitting Konerko more often.
Konerko is 14-for-66 (.212) since he came off the disabled list on July 8.
Richar, who turned 25 last month, played 56 games at second base for the White Sox last year. He's hitting .262 at Triple-A Charlotte, with nine home runs and 39 RBI.
The 26-year-old Masset has appeared in 32 games this year for the White Sox, with a 4.63 ERA. He has been used mostly out of the bullpen, but was a starter in the minor leagues and has started two big-league games.
CBSSports.com Senior Writer Danny Knobler contributed to this report.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
Copyright 2007-2008, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved
