Never having seen a cart that couldn’t be moved in front of a horse, how about this future headline: Braves add Griffey, trade MVP Jones to Cubs?
It was less than two weeks ago that Chipper Jones alluded to the possibility that he might follow Don Baylor to Wrigley Field.
“Everyone knows Don is just on loan,” Jones said before Game 3 of the World Series. “He has made it clear he wants to manage again. In fact, I wouldn’t mind playing for him again if there was a change.”
Jones’ comments seemed farfetched at the time. Why would Atlanta not do whatever it takes to keep the switch-hitting third baseman from walking away as a free agent after next season?
Suddenly there’s a conceivable scenario: If Jones and agent Steve Hammond (an associate of the late Robert Fraley) play financial hardball, seeking an increase from $4.75 million all the way to Albert Belle’s neighborhood ($13 million a year for five years), then Atlanta could put itself in a strong bargaining position by trading for Ken Griffey Jr.
“If you ask me in a vacuum, is it doable, it’s doable,” Braves president Stan Kasten said about adding Griffey. “Anything is possible. But it requires other things happening. If you’re going to add, you have to subtract.”
If the Braves added Griffey while sending only one Jones (center-fielder Andruw) to Seattle, they could shop Chipper to restock their shelves. With Baylor as the manager, you can bet the Cubs would get involved in that sweepstakes. The White Sox also would, although it would be hard for them to give up young talent without an assurance that they would have Jones beyond 2000.
With less than $30 million committed in payroll for next season, the Cubs have the flexibility it would take to add a big-ticket item like Jones. It’s debatable whether they have enough available talent to swing a trade of such magnitude.
GM Ed Lynch would have to consider doing everything possible to get Chipper, who is only 27. That includes trading his own facsimile of Griffey, 20-year-old prospect Corey Patterson, who grew up in suburban Atlanta. The Braves might be interested in shortstop Jose Nieves, especially if they had to trade their best shortstop prospect, Rafael Furcal, in the Griffey deal. Henry Rodriguez, Terry Adams, Felix Heredia and third-base prospect David Kelton would have some value.
If they can figure out how to get him, signing Chipper to an extension should be relatively simple, considering Baylor is under contract through 2003.
“He’s my new best friend,” Jones said. “I’m going to buy him a Maserati. . . . He’s a great guy, easy to talk to. He gets you to mentally prepare for every at-bat. He has given me a great deal of confidence.”
This is wild speculation, of course. But until Griffey is traded, many seemingly unlikely scenarios could come true.
The Braves are a common-sense frontrunner, but many teams will explore their chances.
“I certainly don’t think it’s reasonable to think Atlanta’s the automatic winner in the Griffey sweepstakes,” Reds GM Jim Bowden said.
For his part, Griffey is interested in the biggest contract he can get (he turned down $17.5 million a year from Seattle) and in playing somewhere that he can easily commute to his home in Orlando. He essentially has ruled out the 10 teams who train in Arizona, which includes the Cubs and White Sox.
Atlanta is a natural fit. The Braves offer Ted Turner’s bottomless pockets, a spring home at Disney World, the best pitching in the majors and a chance to chase Henry Aaron in the same city in which the Hammer broke Babe Ruth’s record.
“I’ve been hearing that rumor since spring training,” Braves left-hander Tom Glavine said. “I know a lot of guys who know Ken. It’s no secret he wants to play here. Who doesn’t?”
In addition to Andruw Jones–or possibly even Chipper Jones–the Braves could offer left-hander Bruce Chen, outfielder George Lombard and, with some reservations, shortstop Furcal. All three are exceptional prospects.
But as Bowden said, it is not manifest destiny that Griffey will wind up in Atlanta. Among the other possibilities:
– Cincinnati: Bowden had three telephone conversations with Seattle GM Pat Gillick merely to set up face-to-face meetings with him at this weekend’s GM meetings.
“I couldn’t get to the phone quick enough to call Pat Gillick,” Bowden said. “I told him we want to be a player. We want to be in it. . . . It would be a marriage made in heaven.”
The Reds have players who would interest the Mariners. Their long inventory of movable parts includes first baseman Sean Casey, second baseman-shortstop Pokey Reese, shortstop Travis Dawkins, center-fielders Mike Cameron and Alejandro Diaz, outfielders Dmitri Young and Brady Clark, catcher Jason LaRue and pitchers Brett Tomko, Steve Parris, Rob Bell, Scott Williamson and Danny Graves.
Bowden could appeal to Griffey’s growing sense of family. His father is the Reds’ hitting coach and could replace Jack McKeon as manager after next season.
– Cleveland: John Hart’s overhaul won’t stop with manager Mike Hargrove, and Larry Dolan’s ownership group needs a master stroke to show that it won’t let Richard Jacobs’ legacy die.
The Indians can offer Kenny Lofton (signed through 2001), outfield-first baseman Richie Sexson, outfielder Alex Ramirez, power-hitting third baseman Russ Branyan and pitchers Jaret Wright, Sean DePaulo, C.C. Sabathia and Tim Drew.
– New York Mets: Now that they have made the playoffs, the question is how committed are the Mets to meeting the Yankees in a Subway World Series. GM Steve Phillips says they will “see how (a Griffey trade) works for improving our team.”
The Mets need another left-handed bat with first baseman John Olerud likely to sign with Seattle as a free agent. They can offer Edgardo Alfonzo, Roger Cedeno and their top pitching prospect, Octavio Dotel. But it might take closer Armando Benitez to close the deal.
– New York Yankees: If they are losing both Griffey and Alex Rodriguez, which is very possible, the Mariners would be interested in Bernie Williams and shortstop prospect Alfonso Soriano.
