Friday, February 11, 2000
Reds don't look so small-market anymore
BY SCOTT MacGREGOR
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Reaction from the baseball world proved the Ken Griffey Jr. trade is about more than Cincinnati.
“It's really fun to see because of what's going on with the big-market clubs (spending big money to sign stars),” said former Boston Red Sox manager Kevin Kennedy, now an analyst with Fox Sports Net.
The Griffey deal — along with talk of signing former American League MVP Juan Gonzalez to as much as a $140- million deal in Detroit — to some degree changes the perception that small-revenue teams can't compete for superstar players.
“It's good for the game if stars are distributed throughout the industry instead of to a handful of teams,” Tigers General Manager Randy Smith said. “It gives fans the hope you're going to go out and play with the big boys, that you can attract premium and elite players to your cities.”
But the Reds got Griffey only because he was willing to take less money to play here, and the Tigers can afford to consider Gonzalez's price only because they'll have increased revenue from a new stadium this year.
If Griffey had only been willing to take market value — perhaps as much as $18 million per year, one of the deals from Seattle he turned down — he wouldn't be a Red. His new deal is reportedly worth about $12.9 million per year.
“I don't think this situation compares to others at this point because of the uniqueness of him only wanting to go to one city,” Pittsburgh Pirates General Manager Cam Bonifay said.
But Bonifay said, “It's good to see a player of his caliber chose a medium market-type city, when money's not the entire issue.”
The Major League Baseball Players Association and player agents may not agree. They stand to lose the most from Griffey, arguably the game's biggest superstar, taking less than his market value.
“There will be grumbling from agents that he undervalued himself, that it's going to hurt the market. The players association will moan,” said ESPN analyst Dave Campbell. “But it's his decision. It sets the standard right now.”
The national buzz was also about how good a trade Reds General Manager Jim Bowden made.
“No. 1, the fact they didn't have to give up Pokey Reese or Sean Casey is a great job by Jim Bowden,” Kennedy said. “You've got to be strong up the middle, and for Jim Bowden to get Griffey (in center field) and still have Pokey (at second base) and (Bar ry) Larkin (at shortstop), that's impressive.”
And, of course, there was plenty of talk of Griffey's talent.
“I were starting a team, I'd start with Ken Griffey Jr.,” said Kennedy, who managed against him. “He has power, he plays outstanding defense, he can steal bases when he wants or when you need him to, he has a strong, accurate throwing arm, he hits lefties as well as righties. And he's only 30. He's in the prime of his career.
“It's the perfect time for him to come to Cincinnati.”
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