Tuesday, November 09, 1999Six teams in Griffey chase
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
DANA POINT, Calif. — The Reds maintained an aggressive approach in their pursuit of Seattle Mariners superstar Ken Griffey Jr.
General Manager Jim Bowden planned to meet again with Pat Gillick, his Seattle counterpart. Bowden also represented one of three teams to discuss Griffey with Gillick here Sunday, when the annual meeting of major league general managers began.
Bowden had no further comment on the progress of talks regarding Griffey, a Cincinnati native and Moeller High grad who has requested a trade in order to be closer to his family's home in Orlando, Fla. The Mariners were expected to meet with six teams regarding Griffey.
Gillick has said he wants an outfielder in return for Griffey, considered baseball's best center fielder. Gillick said Griffey would command at least four players, though a package of premier players could be smaller.
Reds right-hander Scott Williamson, named NL Rookie of the Year, has heard the rumors that he could be included in a deal involving Griffey. The speculation stems from the Mariners' desperate need for relief help: They had the worst bullpen ERA (5.94) and most relief losses (31) in the American League.
But Williamson didn't sound overly concerned about the possibility of leaving the Reds so quickly.
“If I get traded for a guy like (Griffey) with some other players, you have to take that as an honor,” Williamson said. “I want my home to be Cincinnati. I love the coaches, I love the team and it would be hard to leave a team that has shown me so much respect.”
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