Corridor of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. hasn’t performed a Main League Baseball sport in almost 13 years, however he is nonetheless among the many highest paid on the Cincinnati Reds payroll heading into the 2023 season.
In a world the place Bobby Bonilla’s infamous contract is a yearly celebration, Griffey’s deferred cash does not obtain almost as a lot consideration.
Griffey will make $3.6M in 2024, topped solely by Wil Myers ($6M), Mike Moustakas ($22M), and Joey Votto ($25M) on the Reds’ 2023 payroll, per Spotrac.
The 13-time All-Star has earned a deferred common wage of $3,593,750 since 2009. Griffey signed a nine-year, $116.5M take care of the Reds in 2000, with $57.5M deferred from 2009-24.
The Reds’ remaining deferred fee to Griffey is available in 2024. It is also the final yr Votto will depend towards the payroll, owed $20M subsequent season. In the meantime, Myers has a mutual possibility in 2024 for $12M, however he could possibly be on the commerce market this season.
It has been effectively over a decade since Griffey final graced an MLB subject as a participant. Nevertheless, “The Child” hasn’t misplaced his groove on the plate.
Hitting coach for Group USA on this yr’s World Baseball Traditional, Griffey placed on a hitting show throughout BP earlier this month, wowing a few of at this time’s stars by taking a pitch deep at 53 years outdated.
Griffey’s swing appears as candy as ever, and since they’re already paying him, perhaps the Reds can discover him some at-bat at DH?
Over 22 seasons in MLB with the Reds, Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox, Griffey was a 13-time All-Star, successful a number of Gold Gloves (10) and Silver Slugger Awards (seven) whereas incomes American League MVP honors in 1997.
Inducted into the Baseball Corridor of Fame in 2016, Griffey stays seventh on MLB’s all-time residence run checklist (630) and seventeenth in RBI (1,836).
