Reds trade Ken Griffey Jr to White Sox

Submitted by Bill White on Thu, 07/31/2008 - 11:11am. Tags:

Sports

Looks like Ken Griffey Jr. will finally be traded to the White Sox, pending league approval. [Chi-Sox GM] Kenny [Williams] has been after this guy for quite some time now.

Eh, as a devoted White Sox fan, I am holding my breath. If it means Paul Konerko is GONE maybe this will work out however on the radio this morning (WSCR AM 670) there were rumors that Steve Swisher is on the trading block.

NOOOOOOOOO! The Chi-Sox have too many aging power hitters already! We need Swisher!

(Of note: Dewayne Wise could very well end up being a vital puzzle piece if the Chi-Sox are to sustain their division lead and compete post-season.)

So anyway, what do we do with Junior?

Life in the Cell offers analysis with which I largely agree:

My initial reaction to getting Griffey was bye-bye Paulie. I don’t mean that in the sense that he would be going to Cincy in exchange for Griffey, because there’s no way they want him or his contract, but rather I meant bye-bye Paulie’s playing time. If Griffey is starting (there are 4 ways that this could happen, which I will outline) then it would have to be at the expense of Konerko. The ways the Sox could fit Griffey into the lineup are as follows:

1.) White Sox put Griffey in CF and move Swisher to 1B.
2.) White Sox put Griffey in RF and move Dye to 1B.
3.) White Sox put Griffey at DH and move Thome to 1B.
4.) White Sox put Griffey at 1B.

We’ll take these in order. Griffey is a butcher in the outfield. In RF, he is %^#$ poor; in CF would be akin to putting Rob Mackowiak in center…4 years from now. If you put Griffey and Dye next to each other in the outfield, the Sox will give up 5x as many triples as they have allowed up until this point; that is, of course, assuming he doesn’t hurt himself in CF. Putting him in right is just about as bad, but not as terrible as putting him at CF.

Griffey playing 1B would be my preferred choice. Bye-bye Konerko! A fan favorite but Paulie's best days may have already happened.

UPDATES TO COME AS THE STORY UNFOLDS
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Fence post turtles -- They don't get up there by themselves, some moron had to put 'em there.

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Junior Might Still Have Some Mileage Left (#106615)

by M Scott Eiland on Thu, 07/31/2008 - 11:22am

At worst, the White Sox are looking at Willie Mays in 1972. If they treat him gently, the upside could be a lot better.

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I agree with you Scott (#106626)

by Bill White on Thu, 07/31/2008 - 11:51am

Treat gently is the key.

I wonder if Griffey Jr. and Jim Thome can rotate between 1B and DH. Keep both in the batting order but do not demand that either play 1B every day. Also, use Steve Swisher as a late inning defensive replacement at 1B.

Paul Konerko is the big question mark, here, and he is having a lousy season. Rumors of Arizona are floating around yet time is growing short.

Fence post turtles -- They don't get up there by themselves, some moron had to put 'em there.

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Can Either Of Them. . . (#106695)

by M Scott Eiland on Thu, 07/31/2008 - 4:47pm

. . .actually play the position decently? First base isn't a horribly stressful position for most older players unless their knees are completely shot--and Griffey started out as a better fielder than Thome. If he can handle the leather, I'd just make him the full timer at first and rest him when he feels the need.

Konerko would seem to be S.O.L.--just like Andruw Jones in LA.

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I dunno -- looks like we might find out (#106697)

by Bill White on Thu, 07/31/2008 - 4:52pm

Hopefully Kenny Williams knows. ;-)

And I agree with you here -- if Griffey can play 1B with only occasional days off (Swisher as back up) -- that would be my preferred route. Keep Thome as a pure DH.

Fence post turtles -- They don't get up there by themselves, some moron had to put 'em there.

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