Griffey returns to Seattle

February 19, 9:32 AMMLB ExaminerAlex Brown

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Free agent outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr. is heading back to the Seattle Mariners after agreeing to a one-year deal worth $2M plus incentives.  Griffey began his career in Seattle amidst much fanfare in 1989, and remained with the team through 1999 before being dealt to his hometown Cincinnati Reds.  Here’s a rundown of Griffey’s accomplishments with the Mariners:

• 398 home runs
• 10 All-Star appearances
• 7 seasons of 100 RBI or more
• 10 Gold Glove awards
• 7 Silver Slugger awards
• 1 American League MVP award

After compiling a Hall of Fame worthy career in Seattle alone, Griffey fell apart physically.  After being dealt to Cincinnati he appeared in over 140 games only twice for the Reds.  At 39 years old he is a shell of his former self, but he can still contribute – he hit right handed pitchers at a .271 clip with 14 homers and 48 RBI in 2008.  While this is certainly a nostalgic day for Seattle fans, I’d like to answer two questions – how long do the Mariners stick with Griffey, and what’s next for the Braves, the team he had reportedly agreed to play for in 2009?

Seattle likely won’t be contending in 2009, and if they are, Griffey will probably be playing well.  He will probably be the starter in right field, but for how long?  The Mariners have second year player Wladimir Balentien vying for playing time in the outfield, and catching prospect Jeff Clement will likely need at bats as the DH.  The easy answer is that Griffey will stay in the lineup as long as he’s hitting – and he’d better be hitting well in June/July in order to keep Balentien and Clement off the field.  Nostalgia is great, but Seattle can’t have it at the cost of their future – remember Gary Carter’s return to Montreal? 

It’s been a rough offseason for the Braves, who were spurned at the last minute by Rafael Furcal and appear to have been led on by Griffey’s agents as well.  They desperately need outfield help, and Garret Anderson is still available as a free agent.  He has a skill set comparable to Griffey’s at this stage in their careers, so I can’t see why the Braves wouldn’t bring him in.  A trade is an option as well – the Yankees have made Nick Swisher and Xavier Nady available.  I think Anderson is the guy for Atlanta though, as the recent signings of Bobby Abreu, Adam Dunn, and Ken Griffey have cost the Braves a bit of leverage in a deal.

Maybe I’m reading too much into this, too early.  The answers to these questions will come, but for now Seattle fans can just enjoy the thought of Griffey in a Mariner uniform once again.