Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. hasn’t played a Major League Baseball game in nearly 13 years, but he’s still among the highest paid on the Cincinnati Reds payroll heading into the 2023 season.
In a world where Bobby Bonilla’s notorious contract is a yearly celebration, Griffey’s deferred money doesn’t receive nearly as much attention.
Griffey will make $3.6M in 2024, topped only 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 average salary of $3,593,750 since 2009. Griffey signed a nine-year, $116.5M deal with the Reds in 2000, with $57.5M deferred from 2009-24.
The Reds’ final deferred payment to Griffey comes in 2024. It’s also the last year Votto will count against the payroll, owed $20M next season. Meanwhile, Myers has a mutual option in 2024 for $12M, but he could be on the trade market this season.
It’s been well over a decade since Griffey last graced an MLB field as a player. However, “The Kid” hasn’t lost his groove at the plate.
Hitting coach for Team USA in this year’s World Baseball Classic, Griffey put on a hitting display during BP earlier this month, wowing some of today’s stars by taking a pitch deep at 53 years old.
Griffey’s swing looks as sweet as ever, and since they’re already paying him, maybe the Reds can find 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, winning multiple Gold Gloves (10) and Silver Slugger Awards (seven) while earning American League MVP honors in 1997.
Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016, Griffey remains seventh on MLB’s all-time home run list (630) and 17th in RBI (1,836).
