SARASOTA, Fla. — Dmitri Young was on his cell phone, and things were breaking up.

        But he wanted to make sure people in Cincinnati knew where he stood on the Ken Griffey Jr.-Pokey Reese debate. When Reese made his comments about Griffey Wednesday, he said he and Young were in agreement. Young, who was traded to the Detroit Tigers in the offseason, said Friday that's true.

Ex-Cincinnati Red Dmitri Young. (Ernest Coleman photo, 2001 season) | ZOOM |

        “Pokey's my brother,” Young said. “I've got his back. I told the Detroit writers where I stand. It's going to cause a stir.”

        Yes, it will. Here's what Young told Booth Newspapers:

        “Pokey was absolutely right,” Young said. “I've said some things that you could read between the lines, but Pokey was dead on.”

        Young went on to say:

        • The acquisition of Griffey divided the Reds: “Once Junior got there, the team broke off into cliques. Then you had guys that basically gave up.”

        • Griffey's humor could be cruel: “(Griffey's) got his accomplishments. But he throws them back in your face. He'd sit there and say, "How many home runs do you have? How much money do you make?'”

        • Griffey and Barry Larkin wanted Young and Reese out: “They engineered the trades. Why do you think we're not there anymore?”

        • He hasn't heard from Larkin or Griffey: “Everyone called me after the trade but them.” Young and Reese both were traded after they turned down four-year deals with the Reds. Young's would have paid him $26 million, Reese's $21 million.

        Young said he wouldn't shake Larkin's or Griffey's hand when the Reds play the Tigers this spring (the teams meet March 13 in Sarasota and March 15 in Lakeland).

        Larkin and Griffey had left the Reds' training facility before Young's comments surfaced. Neither of their agents could be reached for comment.

        Young said he's happy to be a Tiger.

        “I won,” he said. “I got traded. I've got six years of heaven.”

Claims by Reese ring true to Young Casey signs 3-year deal SULLIVAN: Sean Casey Reds notebook Indians seek order in offense

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