Veteran says he’s willing to play any role for Mariners
SEATTLE — Junior’s back in Seattle, one more time.
Ken Griffey Jr. and the Mariners agreed Wednesday to another one-year contract that will keep the popular player in town for what could be his final season.
Griffey, who turns 40 on Nov. 21, was guaranteed $2 million when he signed to return to Seattle for the 2009 season and had the chance to earn more in bonuses.
“The framework of this year’s contract is similar to last year’s,” Griffey’s agent, Brian Goldberg, said.
It is believed Griffey will get a slightly higher base salary, with fewer incentives based upon plate appearances and Mariners home attendance. He earned $1.15 million of a possible $3 million in bonuses from this year’s contract.
Griffey is likely to again be a part-time designated hitter. It will be the 22nd season of a major-league career that began with him as a grinning Mariners teenager.
“The fact that Junior is ending up his career in Seattle is very special,” Goldberg said. “He is willing to perform any role.”
“He’s open to anything,” Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said. “What he said was, ‘I’d like to be a part of this. Hey, I’m the part of a 25-man club. Let the pieces fall where they may … let the manager make the decisions.’ It’s a real bonus to have him back.”
A 10-time All-Star with the Mariners and the 1997 AL MVP, Griffey hit .214 last season with 19 homers as a part-time DH. He was limited by a swollen left knee that required a second operation in as many offseasons last month.
Griffey is No. 5 on the career home run list with 630. He said in October that he would like to return if the Mariners wanted him, then never filed for free agency. He again considered staying home in Orlando, Fla., to be with his wife and three school-aged children.
After spending his first 11 seasons with Seattle and becoming a star, he played nine more with Cincinnati and the Chicago White Sox. Griffey returned to the Mariners this year and almost single-handedly transformed what had been a fractured, bickering clubhouse with his leadership, energy and constant pranks.
“He went beyond anything that I would have expected,” Zduriencik said.
Griffey turned formerly reclusive star Ichiro Suzuki into a smiling, joking teammate. He had neck ties made for road trips bearing manager Don Wakamatsu’s likeness. He also had the Mariners wearing ties bearing his own likeness and the words “World’s Greatest Teammate” for one midseason flight out of Seattle.
“His influence, the presence he has — there are players on this ball club who are very excited to know they are going to be teammates again with Ken Griffey Jr.,” Zduriencik said.
The Mariners even carried Griffey off the field on their shoulders immediately following October’s season finale. He was in tears, saying it was unlike any other day in his life.
“It’s a whole lot of love, a lot of friendship. I don’t know to describe it,” Griffey said Oct. 4. “It’s been unbelievable. They helped me more than I helped them.”
Seattle is convinced Griffey is healthy enough to contribute again next year — though he won’t undergo a physical to formally close his new deal for a while, giving time for the knee to recover from surgery.
