Griffey Chooses to Return to Mariners

Teacher Mark · February 19, 2009

Future Hall of Famer comes back to first big league team

By Jim Street / MLB.com

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Ken Griffey Jr. is coming home.

The future Hall of Fame outfielder who began his Major League career with the Mariners 20 years ago has decided to return to Seattle.

"I can't begin to tell you how ecstatic all of us are," general manager Jack Zduriencik said after announcing the deal in the press room at the Peoria Sports Complex about 6:30 p.m. MT. "He is as well. I spoke to [Griffey's agent, Brian Goldberg] a few minutes ago and he said that Ken is relieved and he is excited about coming back to Seattle."

He has accepted the Mariners' one-year contract offer that includes a $2 million base salary and around $2.5 million in incentives based on at-bats and attendance. His return to Safeco Field is expected to lure an additional 200,000 fans this season.

His arrival to Spring Training had not been determined as of Wednesday night.

But the mere fact Griffey decided to return to his MLB roots had the organization on cloud nine.

"This means a lot for this franchise," Zduriencik said. "It means a lot from a baseball standpoint. We've talked all along about coming up with a left-handed hitter, and we have an opportunity to do that in bringing back Ken Griffey Jr. His leadership, his experience and him coming back is a tremendous, tremendous thing for this organization. From top to bottom, were very excited about him coming here."

The final decision came mid-afternoon, ending a sometimes bizarre saga.

Griffey's negotiations with the Braves were moving at a steady pace until Tuesday afternoon, when the veteran outfielder learned of a report in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution which indicated he'd already decided to play in Atlanta.

But Griffey told MLB.com in a telephone interview that he had not made his decision.

Since then, Griffey had limited contact with the Braves.

He continued to wrestle with his decision and finally, when his family agreed that signing with the Mariners was the best way to go, Goldberg called officials from both organizations and informed them.

"About an hour ago, Brian called me and Ken was calling [club president Chuck Armstrong]. His relationship with Chuck was critical in this whole decision. He looks at Chuck as an uncle.

"Immediately after that, the phone calls were going back and forth between Chuck, myself, [CEO Howard Lincoln] and all of our baseball people."

Griffey began his storied career in Seattle 20 years ago and his return to the Mariners organization would provide a unique nostalgic opportunity. But before the realization of this extended delay in the decision process, it seemed the geographic advantages provided by the Braves outweighed the nostalgic emotions that would be felt with Griffey's return to Seattle.

Griffey's Orlando-area home is located 20 minutes from where the Braves stage Spring Training and just a one-hour flight from Atlanta. While in Seattle, he's a six-hour flight away from his family.

At no point did the Mariners give in to their pursuit, despite the "done deal" reports out of Orlando.

"This is the one player, at the end of the day, that we thought we needed to bring home," Zduriencik said.

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Edited February 19, 2009 by Joe Six-Pack