Updated Nov 11, 2009 - 12:08 pm
Griffey to be a Mariner for another year
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The Mariners have confirmed that Ken Griffey Jr. has agreed to a one year deal that will keep him in Seattle through 2010.
Griffey hit .214 this season with 19 homers and 57 RBIs in 117 games and was embraced by fans in his return to Seattle. He was a designated hitter for all but the first weeks of the season.
Griffey turns 40 this month. The contract is expected to be similar to the one-year incentive-laden deal he signed to return to Seattle for the 2009 season
In a news release Mariners General Manager Jack Zduriencik said, "We believe that Ken's presence with the Seattle Mariners organization was such a positive asset last season with his leadership on and off the field," said Zduriencik. "His passion for baseball, life and the Seattle Mariners goes unsaid. We are happy to have Ken back for the 2010 season."
Listen to Zduriencik on 710 ESPN Seattle:
710 ESPN Seattle Insider and former major league cather Bill Hasselman thinks it's the right move for both the Mariners and Griffey, "I think above all he brings back clubhouse leadership. If they're willing to sign him again, they were impressed with what he did in that clubhouse more than anything else. The fact that he doesn't care about playing time, and he's able to come in there and have a good attitude and lead the clubhouse, that's saying a lot. That's a good thing to have with a team that's gonna be changing a lot of players here until they find the right men."
After spending his first 11 seasons with Seattle, he played nine more with Cincinnati and the Chicago White Sox. Griffey returned to the Mariners this year under rookie manager Don Wakamatsu and helped transform what had been a fractured, bickering clubhouse with his leadership, energy and constant pranks.
Griffey underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee to remove a bone spur last month.
It's the second time in a year that Griffey has undergone surgery on his left knee. He was limited by the knee at times during the 2009 season. He had it drained on multiple occasions.
