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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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In a world where Bobby Bonilla’s notorious contract is a yearly celebration, Griffey’s deferred money doesn’t receive nearly as much attention.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n Hitting coach for Team USA in this year’s World Baseball Classic, Griffey put on a hitting display<\/a> during BP earlier this month, wowing some of today’s stars by taking a pitch deep at 53 years old.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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?\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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).<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n