White Sox general manager Ken Williams has been on the prowl for lefty-swinging slugger Ken Griffey Jr. several times in recent years before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, and apparently he has landed the future Hall of Famer.
According to sources, the Sox have a tentative deal in place for Griffey, but are waiting this morning for the veteran who has no-trade protection to approve the deal before the 3 p.m. deadline.
Since Griffey hit his 600th home run earlier this season, it was clear the Cincinnati Reds were interested in dealing him. He is expected to OK the trade.
‘‘I’m strapped in for a long day,’’ general manager Ken Williams said in a text message to the Sun-Times this morning. ‘‘I will talk about all that has or hasn’t happened when I get to the park at 3 p.m.’’
If the Sox do complete the deal, Griffey likely will be used primarily in center field, a position he hasn’t played on a regular basis since 2006. The deal likely will cost first baseman Paul Konerko playing time as Nick Swisher would probably move from center field to first base.
Konerko has hit just .212 (14-for-66) since coming off the disabled list on July 8. Manager Ozzie Guillen had been considering a day off to give Konerko a mental break. It could be an extended day off for the team captain who has struggled since the start of last season. Swisher pulled out of his own funk when he replaced Konerko at first base last month.
Griffey, 38, is hitting .245 with 15 home runs and 53 RBI in 359 at-bats. Just as important to the White Sox, he has a .355 on-base percentage and will be a much bigger presence in the lineup than Konerko.
Griffey is in the final year of a nine-year, $116.5 million contract, with a club option for 2009 at $16.5 million or a $4 million buyout.
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