Reds’ deal for Griffey rocked baseball world

The road back to his hometown was a winding and uncertain one for Griffey. He met with the Mariners brass on Nov. 2, 1999, to request a trade, citing a desire to be closer to his home in Orlando, Fla.

While he initially stated that he would accept a trade to Braves, Astros, Mets or Reds, when a deal was constructed to send him to the Mets in December, Griffey narrowed the list down to only Cincinnati.

Just three days before the deal was consummated, the Reds announced they would back out of trade talks. They ultimately jumped back in, however, getting a deal done in a matter of hours.

“Ken wanted to be closer to his home in Orlando, Fla.,” Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln told the Tacoma News Tribune. “Since he told us that in November, we’ve worked on making that happen almost daily, playing the cards we were dealt.”

By landing in Cincinnati, Griffey was not only closer to his Orlando home, but also the home of his father, Ken Griffey Sr., who was serving as the Reds bench coach at the time.

“He came here because this is the place that makes him happiest,” Griffey Sr. said. “I’m just proud to have a son who makes decisions based on what makes him and his family the happiest.”

Almost immediately following the trade, speculation abounded regarding the possibility of Griffey’s father eventually taking over as Reds manager. Griffey Sr., a former big leaguer who spent 12 years of his career in Cincinnati and played alongside his son in Seattle for two seasons, had never managed before.

“He’s been in baseball for 20 plus years,” Griffey Jr. told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “He knows what it takes to become a manager. He just has to get that opportunity.”

While the trade brought about promising new beginnings for Griffey in Cincinnati, it also closed the door on his illustrious tenure with the Mariners.