Second times a charm.....Griffey

The Mets completed a deal for Ken Griffey Jr. in December of 1999 when Omar was an assistant GM under Steve Phillips, everything was complete except for the hall of fame sluggers stamp of approval. In what is usually resolved with cash compensation, Griffey decided to veto the trade and remain with Seattle. It wasn't that the Mets were a bad team, in fact they were coming off a wild card playoff birth but Griffey stated that he would only accept a trade to his home town Reds or would remain with the Mariners. Griffey chose to stay in a small market, out of the scrutiny of the NY media. The Mets would make it to the World Series in 2000 and you have to believe that with Griffey the over achieving no-names might have had a chance to actually beat the evil empire. As far as the Reds, they have averaged 75 wins per season since then and never made the playoffs.

Even after Ken Griffey Jr. vetoed a potential trade that would have brought him to the Mets, at least two players and another person affiliated with the Mets called Griffey to see if they could persuade him to change his mind. Source NY Times 12/18/99

Griffey is in the twilight of his career and the Reds are a struggling team barely out of last place. The 38 y/o left hander is in the last year of his contract with a club option for next year ( 16.5 mil or 4 mil buyout). He is a a lifetime .289 batter and is currently hitting .256 with 6 HRs. There's been plenty of speculation that once Griffey hits his 600th HR, he's on the block. Griffey seems more willing to accept a trade as long as it's to a contender. He prefered to return to Seattle but it doesn't look like it will be their year. Would he be a good fit for the Mets and would a more mature Griffey as a role player be able to handle the NY media.

"My situation is different only because I can tell them where I want to go. I want to be in position to win a championship. I'm not strong-arming anybody, but that's the way it is." source USA Today