Griffey considering Rays?

[redsrbetter]

I didn't even know this rumor was going on over the weekend. What I have been reading has been pretty weird, but it has my attention. SI.com reported that the Rays would be Griffey's first option if he were to be traded.

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Then mlbtraderumors.com stated that he was talking to his friends and told them that the Rays are his preference if he were to be traded. Not a legitimate source, I know.

But now ESPN's TV tracker is stating the same thing. That Griffey would accept a deal to the Rays. I never knew ESPN to go public with anything unless it were solid information.

Yet, Brian Goldberg (Griffey's agent) has denied the whole thing. Link

[henks]

That's where all the old folks go, Florida. He would fit right in!

[redsrbetter]

Haha, good one. This just has me a bit baffled though. C Trent has this to say:

The World Wide misLeader in Sports, our friends at ESPN, are at it again.
This time, it's Ken Griffey Jr. to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Well, that would work for the Reds, but why would it work for the Rays?
Griffey's numbers are about equal to current rightfielder Gabe Gross, but he's not as productive on defense. And the Rays already have Cliff Floyd, Eric Hinske, Johnny Gomes and possibly Rocco Baldelli at some point, and that's already four designated hitters. There's no need for Griffey.
Floyd is signed through this season, so perhaps next season when Griffey's on the free agent market. But not until then.

[henks]

Hmm, wtf then?

[Banter]

I didn't even know this rumor was going on over the weekend. What I have been reading has been pretty weird, but it has my attention. SI.com reported that the Rays would be Griffey's first option if he were to be traded.

Seems perfectly logical to me. He came to the Natti to be closer to his family which lives in Orlando. The Rays would only be 2 hours from home. I was surprise when people thought he would go back to Seattle. I know my opinion differers greatly from most people on here but i hope Griffey stays around and retires as a red. He is what the young guys need.

[Kingdom]

The rays need a good hitter, I don't think they should bother. Jock Strap is going to want some of the arms and Tampa should save them.

[redsrbetter]

I don't think Tampa would ever offer any of McGee, Davis, Price, or Niemmann. I doubt we could get Brignac without adding to the deal. But, they did just draft Beckham who should be considered as their SS of the future which leaves little room for Brignac. But I think we would have to pay a large chunk of Griffey's salary.

But even then, C Trent made a good point. They have too many DHs and a platoon in RF already. What need do they have for him? On top of that, Bonds would be a much better option.

[love_that_reefer]

Griffey's agent has already dismissed this rumor and the Rays aren't going to give up youth for an aged veteran, especially when they could get someone better. Justin Ruggiano is just waiting in AAA to plat RF and will be called up eventually.

[Slyder]

I've said it before that if theres a team that "wants" Junior and is a contender I would do the deal just to give Junior an opportunity to play in meaningful October baseball which is not whats going to happen here. If they're not worried about cash Id just try for a couple "high risk" guys to sort of give yourself some wiggle room.

Not a smack on Junior, he's an all time great, but he needs to go somewhere that he can DH more often and save what legs he has left. Watching him in RF now is just painful IMO and he's not producing enough with the bat to make up for it with Duhsty making the lineups. Junior could still be a very useful bat in many lineups but in those lineups he would probably be asked to hit 5th-7th not 3rd.

[NFLman2033]

There is no team that Junior would want to be traded to that would want Junior.. he will be a Red for the rest of this season.. and may have to take a pay cut to come back next year.