Bringing It Back Full Circle

A couple of veterans looking for playing time late in their careers return home to where it all started—their first Major League clubs. Ken Griffey Jr. signed a $2 million deal, with $500 thousand in incentives based on at-bats and attendance with the Seattle Mariners yesterday. Today the Braves reached an agreement with long time Brave Tom Glavine. Glavine’s deal could be as much as $4.5 million with incentives. For both Braves and Mariners fans, seeing these guys back on their clubs has to bring back great memories.

Both signings weren’t major deals that could turn around a team. But, they weren’t just completed for a reunion of player and team. Seattle needs a power bat in a lineup consisting mainly of contact hitters (Russell Branyan does not count). Not to mention the additional ticket sales that will result from Griffey putting on a Mariners uniform. Griffey still has pop left in his bat. If his knee remains healthy, he could put up another 25 to 30 home runs next year.

Tom Glavine was the games’ last 300 game winner. So we know that he can pitch. He has struggled the last two years with command and injuries but still brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to a rather young pitching core. Youngsters Jair Jurrjens and Jo-Jo Reyes could benefit from having Glavine around.

So although this might seem like two teams trying to reunite with a star that made their careers take off with them, it’s much more than that. These two guys can help both teams that struggled last season even though both had lots of talent.