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 Wednesday, November 3
Let's make a deal: Where Griffey might go
 
By David Schoenfield
ESPN.com

 Let's put it this way: Real estate agents in Atlanta are already scoping out some of the available housing in the area's finest neighborhoods.

Let's put it another way: The phones between Seattle and Atlanta will be very busy over the next few days.

Yes, Ken Griffey Jr. may end up somewhere besides Atlanta, but the Braves are the obvious favorites to acquire the future Hall of Famer.

Why? Here are three reasons:

1. Atlanta is reasonably close to Orlando, Griffey's home. Since Orlando doesn't have a major league franchise -- and Tampa Bay and Miami barely do -- Griffey would welcome a trade to the perennial title contender.

2. The Braves have the talent to acquire Griffey in trade. Certainly, the Devil Rays will make a push for Junior, but they don't exactly have the players to excite Mariners general manager Pat Gillick.

3. John Schuerholz isn't afraid to pull the trigger. The Braves' GM has made big trades in the past, and the way his offense was shut down by the Yankees' right-handed starters, he's in dire need of a big left-handed stick.

Of course, other teams will be hot after Junior. Gillick has plenty of experience, but a good GM always listens to advice. So, here are five possible trades for the Mariners to consider:

1. Griffey and John Mabry to the Braves for Andruw Jones, Bruce Chen, Kevin McGlinchy and Rafael Furcal
Why the Mariners make this trade: They get the major leagues' best defensive center fielder in Jones, who is already a good hitter and young enough to get much better. Chen can join Seattle's impressive young rotation while McGlinchy fills a major need in the bullpen. Furcal, a speedy shortstop prospect who stole 96 bases at Class A, gives the Mariners someone to replace Alex Rodriguez after he gets traded. Griffey immediately signs an eight-year, $150 million extension, which places him in Atlanta when he breaks Henry Aaron's record.

Why the Braves don't make the trade: Schuerholz is reluctant to include Furcal.

2. Griffey to the Astros for Moises Alou, Lance Berkman, Daryle Ward and Wade Miller
Why the Mariners make this trade: Berkman and Ward are excellent hitting prospects and fill major holes. Ward steps into the vacant gap at first base and Berkman replaces the declining Jay Buhner in right field. Alou is a risk, but the Mariners can't survive another season of Brian Hunter in left field. Miller is Houston's top pitching prospect at Triple-A.

Why the Astros don't make the trade: They insist on throwing in Derek Bell in the deal. Alou gets hurt while playing with his kids on a treadmill before the deal is finalized.

3. Griffey and Brian Hunter to the Rangers for Ruben Mateo, Rusty Greer, Jeff Zimmerman and Mike Lamb
Why the Mariners make this trade: Mateo is a center fielder with all the tools. Greer is the type of grinder the Mariners have lacked in recent years. Zimmerman provides much-needed bullpen depth while Lamb, who hit .324 with 21 homers at Double-A, can replace the deplorable Russ Davis at third base.

Why the Rangers don't make the trade: They already made their one blockbuster deal of the offseason. They don't need Brian Hunter. They have Tom Goodwin! Another reason this trade won't happen is that the Mariners are extremely unlikely to trade Griffey within their own division.

4. Griffey to the Orioles for Sidney Ponson, Calvin Pickering, Matt Riley, B.J. Ryan and cash
Why the Mariners make this trade: Ponson, Riley and Ryan are added to Freddy Garcia, Gil Meche and John Halama to form a terrifc group of young pitchers. Pickering provides a bat for first base. The cash is used to sign a center fielder.

Why the Orioles don't make the trade: Oops, Albert Belle refuses to DH. Peter Angelos says he's going to give the young players a chance to play.

5. Griffey to the Mets for Edgardo Alfonzo, Roger Cedeno and Octavio Dotel
Why the Mariners make this trade: Cedeno replaces Griffey in center field and fills Seattle's desperate need for a leadoff hitter. Alfonzo moves back to third base and hits second or third. Dotel provides another young, live arm for the rotation.

Why the Mets don't make the trade: Steve Phillips, who actually likes it when the Yankees get all the headlines, wants Alex Rodriguez instead.

 


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