SI.com Weighs In

Drafting Jocketty

People connected to the Reds say Walt Jocketty certainly was not campaigning for the GM job he was given a few weeks ago and would have been just as happy -- or happier even -- to remain as club president and adviser to owner Bob Castellini. They say Jocketty is at a stage in his life where he didn't need this, but that Castellini insisted his old friend take over for Wayne Krivsky.

Reds insiders also say Castellini just never hit it off with Krivsky (beyond the interview, that is) and has always liked Jocketty, the Cardinals' GM when Castellini was a limited partner in St. Louis. Jocketty doesn't dispute the notion that he was drafted for the job. "Mr. Castellini came to me and said he wanted to make a change and asked me if I'd be willing to take over,'' Jocketty said.

While Castellini asked, it apparently wasn't a question. "I couldn't really turn him down,'' Jocketty said.

Krivsky said he has no issue with Jocketty, who was brought into the front office in January. "He told me at the time he wasn't interested in my job,'' Krivsky said by phone. "And I believe he was telling me the truth."
Griffey, Dunn should hit the market

Krivsky leaves a better team than the one he inherited, thanks to some positive individual moves. Two of the best were taking Josh Hamilton in the Rule 5 draft and then trading him to the Rangers for young pitcher Edinson Volquez (a good deal for both sides).

With an improved young nucleus, people around the game believe Jocketty's goal will be to change the climate around the perennially underachieving team and that he will seriously entertain offers for Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn. It won't necessarily be easy to get a haul in return, thanks to slow starts by the two sluggers (Griffey is at .250 with four home runs, while Dunn is hitting .203 with six homers), high salaries and expiring contracts (Dunn's ends after the year and the Reds hold a $16.5-million option on Griffey, which is unlikely to be exercised). Griffey also has veto power over trades while Dunn has a limited no-trade provision that names 10 teams to which he can not be traded.

The Mariners remain a possible destination for Griffey, who's beloved in that area, and especially by Mariners team president Chuck Armstrong. Although, if Griffey hopes to go to a winner, he might have to look elsewhere. The Indians could also be a candidate for offense, especially if Travis Hafner (.354 slugging) doesn't turn it around.