The Braves are on the verge of signing outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. Braves beat-writer Mark Bowman says, that the deal is 1-year contract worth $1.5 million. Griffey Jr. would platoon at LF with current Brave Matt Diaz. Signing Griffey would give the Braves a power lefty bat. Griffey would most likely serve as the cleanup hitter, batting behind Chipper Jones. Chipper is confident that he and Griffey can rotate between the 3 and 4 spots depending on whichever serves the "team" better. Griffey may not be 20-year's old anymore but he is still capable of putting up strong numbers from the plate. Fan Graphs predicts, that Jr. will hit 20 long balls, 60 RBI's while tallying a near .250 batting average. The interesting thing to note here is that their predictions come off only 400 at-bats. Sounds like their projecting that he will platoon wherever he ends up. Griffey's defense is nothing spectacular but I think he can benefit from the pitcher-friendly Turner Field and a strong defensive CF such as Jordan Schaffer.
How do ya'll feel about signing Griffey Jr.? Would this be Raul Mondesi all over again or is it one of the better moves this organization would make this off-season?
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I hope they get Jr.
ReplyDeleteThis signing should help the offense. With Griffey, the Braves are slightly below the Mets and slightly above the Phillies in the projected standings, but they're all in the same conversation. Projections don't include luck and the Braves were very unlucky last season. Regardless, it's going to be one heck of a battle for the NL east. I can't wait.
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