For the last 2-3 months....the biggest story about the Cincinnati Reds is about a trade that would send Ken Griffey Jr to the Chicago White Sox. With three days left until the true trading deadline ends....the Bob Huggins smoke clearing and the Bengals barking in preseason....it is back popping up.
In those 2-3 months....all the people in the Reds organization and Griffey himself have shot down those rumors. Yet, every week...they keep coming up. So, again, Griffey has to say "I'm not going to Chicago" and not many will believe him.
This subject has been on the tips of Reds fans tongues for a couple years now. When the Reds dealt for Griffey, the team had just made a postseason run and had just lost a one-game-playoff to the New York Mets. At the time, the Reds were lauded for stealing Griffey away from the Mariners. Brett Tomko, Mike Cameron and a cheaper contract than what Griffey could command made the Reds the undisputed winner in that deal.
Since then, injuries had killed Griffey. And those lost seasons bring on the realization that Griffey is now 35 years old. The Kid who was to break Aaron's marks had to sit back as Sosa, McGwire and Palmeiro are charging up those HR lists. Former teammates Randy Johnson and Alex Rodriguez are winning Cy Young Awards, World Series and reaping huge contracts. Both are now Yankees....and many assume that Junior would be joining them at some point.
And this is where the split begins.
There are many around Cincy that want Griffey traded. Why? Well, for the first time since he's gotten here, he has stayed healthy. His trade value will most likely not get as great as it is now. With the tight wildcard races...there is always a need for a left handed power bat like Junior's. Strike while that iron is hot.
It is obvious to many fans here that the Reds just aren't going to win the division...let alone get to the World Series. At least not in the time Griffey has left with the Reds. Some want him to go to New York or Chicago and live vicariously thru him. Let Griffey get his ring!
I, however, live on the other side. I think Griffey needs to stay. Sure, his star has suddenly turned bright again and it is nice to know that he's valued. But as a Reds fan....I don't want my team turning into that. I don't want to be the Royals or Pirates or Brewers who develop guys that turn into greats somewhere else. We suffered watching Junior pull up lame heading into home or running down a ball in center field. We've read about Griffey's rehab and work outs during the offseasons. We all have gotten excited every spring hearing reports on how crisp he looks. And then he gets hurt.
But he hasn't this year.
Call it the Barry Larkin effect. For nearly two decades, we KNEW Barry Larkin would be around. Sure, he missed time too during this Griffey Era....but you know that if you went to the game.....#11's influence is felt. Now, Griffey has taken that over. Despite all of the talk and rhetoric....this is Junior's town. People get excited when Griffey gets up to the plate again. People check the boxscores to see if he hit another one out. You are seeing the #30 jerseys around town again.
Do I think he will be dealt? No. Not this year. And not unless this team is totally in the crapper. Sure, this season has been done for the Reds for quite some time. But if Cincinnati was in the NL West division.....they'd just be 2.5 games back of first place. As it stands now, they are only 8.5 games out of the Wild Card standings. Sure, too much...but not enough to completely rehaul the team.
Griffey is in the fabric of the Reds. Great American Ballpark is, not so coincidentally, designed to Griffey's strengths. He is probably the first Hall Of Famer in Cincinnati since Tom Seaver....save Pete Rose. He hit his 400th home run as a Red. He hit his 500th home run as a Red. Hopefully...he will hit at least 66 more home runs as a Red to reach #600.
Two more HRs...and he passed Mickey Mantle for 12th all time on the HR list. Fourteen more HRs...and he passes Mike Schmidt. Another 34 HR season...and he is in the Top 10. I'd like him to reach those goals in Cincinnati.
So, my final hope is that Carl Linder [owner] and his stubborness keep Griffey around. He does matter.
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