Griffey agrees to go to White Sox
At about the same time a Boston Red Sox official described a proposed three-way trade that would send Manny Ramirez to the Florida Marlins and also involve the Pittsburgh Pirates as "50-50 at this point," Ken Griffey Jr. agreed to waive his no-trade rights and will leave the Cincinnati Reds for the Chicago White Sox, a source said Thursday.
The Reds, who also are taking calls on left fielder Adam Dunn, are expected to receive right-hander Nick Masset and second baseman Danny Richar in the trade. It is unclear how the White Sox will use Griffey, who hasn't played center field in two years and hardly hits left-handers anymore. They are set at the corner outfield spots with Carlos Quentin and Jermaine Dye.
But he's had a decent July, batting .271 with five home runs and 17 RBI, his best month of the season. He ranks sixth on the all-time run list with 608.
Griffey, 38, is in the final guaranteed year of a nine-year, $116.5-million contract. The club holds an option for next season for $16.5 million, with a $4 million buyout.
Richar batted .230 in 56 games for the White Sox last season and has spent this year in Triple-A. Masset has a 4.63 ERA in 44 2/3 innings for the White Sox this season.
As the clock ticked past noon Manny Standard Time, the Red Sox official said negotiations to unload Ramirez "have a lot of variables and is very complicated." But a Pirates source sounded more optimistic, saying they are satisfied with their end of the deal, which would send outfielder Jason Bay to the Red Sox. The Pirates, who would get Jeremy Hermida from the Marlins as their centerpiece in the trade, have ceased trade discussions with other teams involving Bay.
Another source familiar with the negotiations said at 12:30 ET that, "It's getting closer, but there's still a chance it could fall apart."
