I totally agree with you. Griffey should have stayed there for sure. Griffey, AROD, Ichiro and how about Randy Johnson who was there as well. What a team – the problem is they couldn’t have afforded all of those players.

Thanks for the contribution.

Merrill

I only bring this up because for the most part, that’s why most of the moves we remember happen. Thinking about recent teams I’d name these baseball teams from the past 15 years: 94 Expos, 97 Indians & Marlins, 98 Padres, 99 Reds, 00 Yanks, 01 Dbacks, 04 Sox, and 06 Tigers. That being said…here’s my list.

Ken Griffey Jr. should have never left Seattle. Griffey says that management asked him if they should keep him or Arod. Since Griffey is almost famous for his sensitivity, he proactive campaigned for the trade to Cincy because his hometown would never hurt his feelings or let him down. As a result, Griffey was sent to Cincy and his legs started to give out like someone who’d put in about 1500 games on concrete in the Kingdome. The media in Cincy stopped giving out free passes around 02 and “The Kid” as well as the best baseball player of my generation fizzled out. If he stays, a year after opening a stadium, continue to build and perhaps get the money to keep both he and Arod. Maybe they don’t have to lose Gil Miche and Adam Jones. Maybe they don’t get desperate and go after Benard.

Interesting comments. Funny i remember the different trades you have mentioned and would have loved to have Magglio as a Sox. Not sure I agree with your Nomar is happier on the left coast comment. He was the face of the organization and Ted Williams once said he is Boston. He became disgruntled with the Sox offer which by the way was 4 years for $60 million which he now looks back and should have taken. He would have had much better stats in Boston the LA/Chicago. Manny is another story – yes he has two rings and yes he is a very different person and appears to do things Manny’s way. Which in a lot of ways is ok even if the fans (including myself) don’t like it.
Your college point is a great one and one that every college athlete struggles with. Hopefully they had insurance and they at least financially will be ok.

Good discussion – thanks Ed!

Merrill

I agree on one hand and not on another. Yes Johnny has had a great year and solid post season but I think he lost his identity leaving Boston and coming to NY. Yes he got a little more money but had to cut his hair, shave his beard, is now one of 12 superstars in the locker room. He was loved in Boston and I would bet from a “am I having fun standpoint bet he is lacking that a Little bit”.

He is a good guy. I am sure the Yankees bring him back next year and don’t bring back Matsui.

Merrill

In December of 2003, the Red Sox had two deals ready to go, one contingent on the other. The first was a one for one swap sending Manny to Texas for A-Rod. The minute that deal was completed they were then going to swap Nomar to the White Sox for Magglio Ordonez. The Red Sox refused to pay part of Manny’s salary, thus both deals felt apart. The Sox knew Nomar’s days at short were coming to an end and had no other open field position for him to play. In 2004, when the deal for Cabrera came their way, they took it and never looked back. In 2006, the Dodgers took a chance on Nomar by moving him to first and he came through winning the NL Comeback Player of the Year. For the last 3 seasons, he has managed to play/work in his home state while being close his family. I think Nomar is a happier person on the left Coast than in Beantown.

As for the Dread-locked One, sure Manny wanted nothing more than a big pay day when he signed with Boston in 2001. But he got two things by playing in Boston that he would have never had a chance of getting in Cleveland – two World Championship rings. That is two more than Ted Williams, Yaz, Billy Williams, Ernie Banks, Rod Carew, Harmon Killebrew and Willie McCovey have combined. He currently has $20 million dollars guaranteed for his 19th year in the game. Other than some chemical related issues, I am sure he is currently one very happy person and does not miss Cleveland one bit.

If you want to discuss free-agent athletes who made poor decisions on where to play, forget the pros, since if they pick the wrong city, they still have solace in some sort guaranteed pay. I think this question is better suited for college athletes who are eligible to be drafted, but elect to stay in college. The two best examples are currently Rick Tebow and Sam Bradford. Both of these guys could have gone to the NFL, would have been 1st round picks and would have had very nice pay days. They both decided to stay in school and go for another Heisman Trophy and another BCS title. Tebow got knock silly with a concussion in Florida’s first game and has not been the same since, while Bradford is out for the rest of the season with a bum shoulder. I am sure they get all the perks that come with being starting QB at Florida and Oklahoma, but their early season injuries have cost them big time NFL bucks in 2010.