Update: Griffey denies making a decision -- see bottom of post.Just last week it looked like Ken Griffey Jr. was on the verge of returning to Seattle where he started his career, but now, five days later, Junior still hasn't signed with anybody. In fact, with each passing day it seems less likely that Griffey is going to return to Seattle, as most of the talk surrounding him the last few days has been about him signing with the Atlanta Braves.
Now according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's David O'Brien, Griffey joining the Braves is inevitable. In fact, O'Brien says that both sides have already agreed to a contract and are just waiting for Junior to pass a physical and the right time to announce it.
Griffey's expected to make a decision and sign this afternoon, and I'd be very surprised if it's not with the Braves. I'm told the details have already been worked out, though the agent will meet with GM Fran Wren once more this afternoon. Don't know about the physical yet, if they're doing it today or what.Man, that Alex Rodriguez is ruining it for everybody.
No announcement is expected from the team until Wednesday (in part because of the A-Rod circus over in Tampa, but also because a Griffey decision probably won't come until late afternoon, too late to call a press conference).
I have to say I'm a bit surprised by all of this. I know that being in Atlanta will keep Junior a lot closer to his family, which is always a big consideration for a player, especially late in his career, but I thought he'd end up in Seattle. Not just because of his history there, but because in the American League he can DH, which will be better for his legs in the long run.
In Atlanta he's not going to get that opportunity.
As for the Braves, their desire for a left-handed hitting outfielder has been evident over the last few months as they've also been interested in Garret Anderson and pondered making a trade for the Yankees' Nick Swisher. Details of the "alleged" contract aren't known yet, but early reports had it in the $1.5 million range, and if that's true, this is a low-risk/high-reward move for the team, so even if it blows up in their face it won't hurt that badly.
Update: Griffey told MLB.com this afternoon that he's still mulling his options, though expects to make a decision "later today or early tomorrow morning."
"We are still kicking things around with my family and have not made a decision," Griffey said from his Orlando, Fla., home. "This is the first time in my career that I have been a free agent, and it's nerve-wracking."
