MLB Trade Rumor: Ken Griffey Jr

by faketeams on May 13, 2008 7:01 PM EDT in Baseball

Reports have the Seattle Mariners scouting Reds' OF Ken Griffey, Jr. as a solution to all that ails their offense. Whether or not that is the case, I am not sure the M's front office could look past the bump in gate that Griffey will bring to determine that. What I can say is Griffey's presence will negatively effect the two rookies the M's recently recalled to help their offense.

RF Wladimir Balentien was recalled to replace RF Brad Wilkerson and his AVG that is only good enough to start for the Toronto Blue Jays. C Jeff Clement was recalled to provide pop from the DH spot occupied by former 2B Jose Vidro. Balentien will be out of a starting job if Griffey plays RF, and Clement will be out of a job if Griffey DHs. Jose Vidro just disappears down the rabbit hole when Griffey arrives.

Given the prospects GM Bill Bavasi has dealt for other veterans, I wouldn't be surprised to see a very good prospect leave the Mariners in a Griffey trade. Recall Vidro cost the M's Chris Snelling and Emiliano Fruto, Eddie Perez cost Asdrubel Cabrera and Ben Broussard came at the price of Shin-Soo Choo. This means it is not out of the realm of possibility that Clement or Balentien are not trade bait.

I am not sure who the Reds will receive except to say that I will not be surprised if those player(s) are better than any baseball pundit expects. The Reds could use pitching, an OF to replace Adam Dunn and/or a catcher.

	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
2008 - Ken Griffey	38	140	17	35	6	0	4	18	18	22	0	1	.250	.338	.379

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	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
2008 - Wladimir Balentien	13	46	6	11	2	0	4	9	2	14	0	0	.239	.271	.543

	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
2008 - Jeff Clement	12	37	3	6	1	0	0	0	6	16	0	0	.162	.295	.189

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what .........

“Given the prospects GM Bill Bavasi has dealt for other veterans, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a very good prospect leave the Mariners in a Griffey trade. ”

am i missing something? what good prospect has he given up that has done a dang thing in the majors so far that you mentioned? choo? snelling? Fruto? Cabrera? the M's are a win now team with possibly the best 2 SP's pitchers in a short playoff series if Felix ever progress' to #1 type caliber and Bedard stays healthy,come playoff time do i want Balentin or Clement up in a big spot or Griffey?

by superherodj on May 13, 2008 9:47 PM EDT reply actions

Cabrera

A 22-year-old starting 2B on an expected playoff contending team is a bad trade.

However, you are on to something about prospects. They don’t mean anything if they don’t become decent major leaguers. Cabrera is the only one who has done anything on the field and that isn’t even drunk-at-a-game All-Star ballot voting worthy either.

Prospects have perceived value and on that score Choo, Snelling and Fruto had value

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by faketeams on May 14, 2008 12:18 AM EDT reply actions