Griffey expects to stay with Reds

By JOE KAY, AP Sports Writer

August 29, 2005

CINCINNATI (AP) -- Ken Griffey Jr. has no desire to leave his hometown team, his agent said Monday in response to another round of speculation that the Cincinnati Reds would consider trading the outfielder.

Chief operating officer John Allen said there was no truth to reports out of Chicago that the Reds and White Sox were working on a deal for Griffey, who has the right to block any trade. Reports have popped up in various forms since July.

The 35-year-old Griffey has the final say over whether he is dealt. As a player who has spent 10 years in the majors, the last five with the same team, Griffey has the right under baseball's collective bargaining agreement to block any trade.

His agent said Monday he doesn't want to go anywhere else.

``Junior is not looking to get out of Cincinnati,'' agent Brian Goldberg said. ``If the Reds want to initiate a trade and seek his approval, that's their prerogative and Junior and I would deal with that if they were to come to us.''

So far, the Reds have not. Griffey's renaissance season -- a .302 average, 33 homers, 90 RBIs -- has revived his career and his popularity in Cincinnati. He is tied for 13th on the career homer list with Jimmie Foxx at 534, two shy of Mickey Mantle.

Griffey is still the best draw on the Reds' roster, the one player who can get fans interested in coming to the ballpark to see him take a swing at history or make a sensational play in center field.

Any deal involving the outfielder would have to be approved by Reds owner Carl Lindner, who brought Griffey home in February 2000 on a nine-year, $116.5 million deal that runs through 2008. Lindner has given no indication he would approve a trade unless Griffey asks to leave.

Allen confirmed that there have been no discussions with Griffey about a deal.

``The continued pending trade reports this past weekend regarding the Reds and the White Sox are rumors and there's no merit to them,'' Allen said in a phone interview Monday. ``In addition, it should be remembered that Ken is a 5-and-10 (year) player and would have to be involved in any discussion in that regard.

``We have not and do not intend to have any such discussions with Ken and his agent.''

Trade speculation will become moot at midnight Wednesday. Any player dealt after that deadline won't be eligible for the postseason.

The speculation involving Griffey underscores his remarkable comeback from his worst injury. Griffey tore his right hamstring from the bone and had it reattached with three titanium screws last August, jeopardizing his career.

The hamstring hadn't fully recovered by spring training. He got off to a slow start, but has looked like the old Junior since July. His 16 homers since the All-Star break are the most in the majors, and he's hitting .370 in August with 10 homers and 19 RBIs.

Griffey is hitting .458 during a 14-game hitting streak, kept intact Monday when Cincinnati's game in Pittsburgh was rained out.

His contract calls for base salaries of $12.5 million in each of the next three seasons, plus an option for 2009 at $16.5 million. The club could buy out the option year for $4 million.

In all, Griffey is owed $41.5 million after the 2005 season, so he wouldn't be a short-term or cheap fix for any playoff contender looking to add another slugger.

Griffey expects to stay in Cincinnati.

"There's no use talking about hypotheticals here because nobody from the Reds has asked us about any kind of trade,'' Goldberg said. ``As long as nobody asks, we have to assume there is nothing in the works.''