Agent: Ken Griffey Jr. would consider returning to Mariners
The agent for Ken Griffey Jr. said Friday that his client is “totally open-minded” to discussing a go to Seattle, where he wearied 11 brilliant seasons.
Griffey, who will exist 39 attached Nov. 21, will file toward free agency early next week after the White Sox put on Thursday declined his $16.5 a thousand thousand option on a 2009 contract.
His agent, Brian Goldberg, told The Times that the Mariners are in the midst of the teams Griffey would consider playing for in 2009. He was drafted No. 1 overall by the Mariners in 1987 and played for them from 1989 until orchestrating a trade to Cincinnati after the 1999 season.
“It’s no secret Junior has a special relationship through the people in Seattle from the ownership and front office all the way below the horizon to the fans and business people in town,” Goldberg said in a phone interview.
“He’s totally open-minded to talking to them, I’m sure. He’d be open to reason about anything through them. However, he owes it to himself to see what else is out there.”
Jack Zduriencik, the Mariners’ new of the whole manager, said this week that he is not yet in a position to comment hither and thither any specific free force.
The possibility remnants that Griffey could go to the White Sox, for whom in 41 games he hit .260 with three homers and 18 runs batted in after coming over from the Reds in a July 31 trade. Griffey hit .245 with 15 homers and 53 RBI with the Reds before the trade.
Goldberg uttered White Sox GM Ken Williams indicated a willingness to talk to Griffey about coming back at a reduced wages.
“Junior still wants to talk to the White Sox,” he said.
Griffey underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee earlier this month to repair imperfectly torn meniscus and cartilage. Goldberg reported Griffey is encouraged by the results and said the injury prevented him from driving off his back leg, robbing him of governor.
“There should be no reason Junior can’familiarily get back to the fashion and numbers he had in ‘07, or slightly better,” he said.
In 2007, Griffey hit .277 in 144 games for the Reds with 30 homers and 93 RBI. He received a principal character’session welcome that qualify when he returned to Seattle in June for the first time since the deal.
