Sports
Could Rays Be In Griffey's Future?
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Published: June 16, 2008
ST. PETERSBURG - A report Friday on SI.com that Reds RF Ken Griffey Jr. has told friends he would consider waiving his no-trade rights to join the Rays this summer has generated some talk-show buzz.
Griffey's longtime agent, Brian Goldberg, doesn't know why. Goldberg told the Tribune on Sunday from Cincinnati that SI.com's story represented "the first Junior or I have heard anything about it."
Goldberg also said no one from the Reds has approached him or Griffey about waiving the no-trade rights the future Hall of Famer has earned by accumulating at least 10 years of service time, the last five with the same team. That would have to happen before Griffey could be dealt anywhere.
Griffey, 38, is in the final guaranteed year of his contract. The Reds hold a $16.5 million option for next season that most expect them to decline in favor of paying Griffey a $4 million buyout.
If that happens, Griffey would become a free agent for the first time in his career and it wouldn't be a surprise if the Rays were on his list of teams to call during the winter, as Tropicana Field is within reasonable driving distance of his Orlando home. For now, though, it doesn't appear that there's reason to believe Griffey will be suiting up for Tampa Bay in the near future.
JACKSON MAY APPEAL: The Rays have anticipated ever since suspensions were handed down following their brawl in Boston that RHP Edwin Jackson probably would miss his next scheduled start after Sunday's game.
However, it remains unclear when Jackson will begin serving what currently stands as a five-game ban. Rays manager Joe Maddon said Sunday morning that Jackson would begin serving his suspension Tuesday, but the team had previously said two pitchers couldn't be out at the same time. Since RHP James Shields' six-game suspension runs through Wednesday's game, Thursday would seem to be the first day Jackson could sit out.
There remains a possibility Jackson could appeal the ruling, and if that is the case he would be able to continue playing until the matter is resolved. Jackson said after Sunday's game he still wasn't sure whether he would appeal or when the suspension might begin.
PICKING SPOTS: SS Jason Bartlett has started 25 consecutive games and 65 of the Rays' 69 contests this season. He probably is due for another day on the bench, but a generous sprinkling of off days in Tampa Bay's schedule has helped the Rays stretch him out a little farther.
Still, Maddon acknowledged Sunday that Bartlett probably is due for a break sometime in the next couple of weeks, and it may come for non-baseball reasons. Bartlett's wife, Kelly, is expecting their first child in early July and the new dad could miss some time when the baby arrives.
Whenever Bartlett gets a break, the plan is still for Evan Longoria to slide over and play shortstop for the first time since his sophomore year at Long Beach State.
"I have no problem doing that with Longoria," Maddon said.
NOTEWORTHY: The three-game weekend series drew a total of 79,393 fans for an average of 26,465. ... 1B Willy Aybar batted second for the first time this season. ... Vero Beach's J.T. Hall won the home run derby at Saturday night's Florida State League All-Star Game.
Marc Lancaster
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