Home sweet home…
The future Hall of Famer informed the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday that he’s returning to the city where he carved out a Hall of Fame career as a perennial All-Star in the 1990s.
“He’s coming home. … I can’t begin to tell you how ecstatic we are. He is, too,” Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik confirmed on Wednesday night, calling Griffey “arguably one of the greatest athletes to ever play in the Seattle area.”
“Ken is extremely excited to be coming back to Seattle,” Zduriencik said.
The contract is for one year and $2 million guaranteed and includes incentives that could bring the total value of the deal to $4.5 million, a source said.
“We were informed tonight that Ken Griffey Jr. has decided to return to Seattle,” Braves general manager Frank Wren said. “We will continue to be open to other possibilities to improve our outfield offense and, at the same time, give our young players an opportunity to show us they can win that job.”
Griffey is extremely close to Mariners president Chuck Armstrong and chairman Howard Lincoln from his previous tenure with Seattle from 1989 through 2000. He made the All-Star team and won a Gold Glove with the Mariners every year during the 1990s, and received a hero’s welcome when he returned to the city with the Cincinnati Reds in 2007.
It’s believed that the Mariners would like to continue their association with Griffey in some fashion when he retires — although it’s uncertain in what role.
Griffey is likely to spend time in left field in Seattle, where Endy Chavez is currently the starter, and could also be a DH for new manager Don Wakamatsu. He turned 39 in November, and underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in the offseason.
Griffey’s return is a jolt for the Mariners, the first team with a $100 million payroll to lose 100 games — last season.
“A rejuvenated Ken Griffey coming back to where he started has to be a fabulous motivator for him,” Zduriencik said.
Seattle’s starting outfield currently has Ichiro Suzuki in right field, Franklin Gutierrez in center and question marks in left, and Zduriencik left open the possibility Griffey could play in the field.
But Griffey is coming back to where he spent the heyday of his career — to Seattle.
“I know in his heart of hearts,” Zduriencik said, “he probably wanted to be here all along.”