Griffey says 'no' to Mets trade
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Your support makes all the difference.Ken Griffey Jr decided autumn in New York is not so inviting.
Ken Griffey Jr decided autumn in New York is not so inviting.
The Seattle Mariners and Mets agreed on Monday night to an electrifying trade that would have sent the 10-time All-Star to New York, but Griffey exercised his right to reject the deal.
"I don't feel like we were wasting time," Mets general manager Steve Phillips said. "I think it was a worthy effort to pursue, and an exciting one to pursue."
Neither Phillips nor Mariners general manager Pat Gillick identified the players the Mets agreed to send Seattle. But a person involved in the talks, speaking on the condition he not be identified, said the sides agreed on closer Armando Benitez, outfielder Roger Cedeno and young pitcher Octavio Dotel.
Mariners president Chuck Armstrong called Griffey's agent, Brian Goldberg, with the proposed deal Monday night, but Goldberg said no.
Griffey has the right to reject any trade as a 10-and-5 player - 10 years in the majors, the last five with the same team.
"At this point, I don't think he wants to go to the Mets," Gillick said. "You're always hopeful something will change."
Gillick emphasized the "at this point." Phillips also said he will continue working to try to land Griffey.
"I'm always willing to leave that door ajar to be revisited," Phillips said.
Griffey asked the Mariners to trade him closer to his home in Orlando, Florida, but his agent told several newspapers last weekend that his client would accept only a trade to Cincinnati. His father, Ken Sr., is the Reds' hitting coach.
Gillick, like Phillips, wouldn't rule out another attempt to trade Griffey to New York,
"I think the Mets have a good ballclub and a good situation," Gillick said. "I think it's a nice place to play. You're always hopeful people want to play in a winning situation."
Still, it was clear that Phillips' hopes were raised Monday night, only to evaporate.
"It's been made clear to us that he would prefer not to be traded to the Mets," he said.
Reds general manager Jim Bowden broke off talks on Saturday, saying Seattle would not back off its insistence that second baseman Pokey Reese be included in any deal.
Atlanta, another logical choice, said it doesn't want to give up any players for Griffey and prefers to wait until he becomes eligible for free agency after next season.
"The main reason Junior's list has narrowed really is because the Mariners are pursuing us constantly about teams and situations not on the original list," Goldberg was quoted as saying in several newspapers on Monday. "He doesn't like the misleading and the game-playing, so he decided to shut it down."
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