The Return of The Chicagoist Reader Meet-Up
Cubs Combat Casino
Notre Dame Fan Takes It Too Far, Allegedly Punches Clausen
County Sales Tax Rollback Vetoed - Here We Go Again
PHOTOS: Peaches And Amanda Blank At Metro
Perhaps a few years later than initially expected, the White Sox are rumored to be acquiring Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. before today's trading, deadline according to FoxSports. The deal, in which the Sox will give up prospects, is supposedly awaiting Griffey's approval—he's a 10-and-5 player—before being officially announced.
With the Sox in first place at the deadline, GM Ken Williams is looking to add the final pieces to ensure his team can compete through October. It's known he was looking to add bullpen help, with both Bobby Jenks and Scott Linebrink spending time of the DL this month.
But Griffey? Hitting .245 with 15 home runs and 53 RBIs for the Cincinnati Reds this season, he'll likely return to center field and play along side Carlos Quentin and Jermaine Dye. That means we'll probably see Nick Swisher platooning at first with Paul Konerko.
Chicagoist isn't sure what to think of this deal. Seems like it's just another oft-injured, low-average slugger added to a roster full of 'em. How about a leadoff man, Kenny? We really believe a table setter is the difference between a late October run or an early playoff exit.
Update: Griffey approved the deal. Sox send Danny Richar and Nick Masset to the Reds in return. Still technically awaiting MLB's "rubber stamp" of approval.
AP Photo/David Kohl
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
This is bad. Very bad. People hear "Griffey" and get all excited because they think they're getting the Griffey of 1998, but if you look at his stats and watch him play, he stinks. He can barely manage right field, never mind center field.
Griffey can NOT play CF. he can barely play decent enough in RF w/p screwing the team over definsively. honestly i do not understand this trade unless another trade is going to happen. rumors are Swisher back to the A's for Huston Street, then this deal makes much more sense.
Besides, Griffey's stats are very marginal. He is an average hitter, w/ below average fielding. only hitting .245 in the NL is not good. His OPS+ is barely above league average.
Ehh, I dunno. It depends on the prospects they gave up. A guy with .245BA, 15HR, and .787OPS isn't exactly that much of an upgrade over Konerko (who Griffey would essentially replace). Even if they gave up basically nothing, it's still a pretty ho-hum deal... it's a minor upgrade at best that doesn't really address the biggest concern: Pitching.
I misspoke -- it's not necessarily a terrible trade because I'm sure the White Sox aren't giving up too much in return and Griffey replaces Konerko in the lineup. It's just an odd move when the team has other needs and is unnecessary waste of time.
they're giving up Richard and Masset according to YSPN
Anything is better right now than watching Konerko check his swing at pitches bouncing two feet in front of the plate, like he was with Boof Bosner last night. I say let's see what's left in Jr.'s tank.
Masset is an addition by subtraction. i feel much better now. plus richar can barely hit this year in AAA in a pure hitter's ballpark. we lose nothing.
Doesn't Griffey have an option for next year, though? This isn't a rental -- the Sox are stuck with his sorry ass for the next year and a half.