The Chicago White Sox have acquired 38-year old outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. from the Cincinnati Reds for 2B Danny Richar and reliever Nick Masset. Griffey played in 102 games this season for the Reds and he was 88 for 359 (.245 avg, .787 OPS) with 51 runs scored, 15 homers and 53 RBIs. The White Sox will likely start Griffey in center field with Nick Swisher moving to first base and Paul Konerko moving to the bench. Swisher has played in 105 games this season for the White Sox and he is 82 for 356 (.230 avg, .752 OPS) with 63 runs scored, 15 homers and 50 RBIs. Griffey should be an upgrade on Swisher defensively in center field despite the fact that he has been playing right field all season for the Reds. Griffey has now played in 2,480 games in his major league career and he is 2,646 for 9,185 (.288 avg, .922 OPS) with 1,596 runs scored, 608 homers, 1,754 RBIs and 184 stolen bases.

Danny Richar was going to likely be the White Sox starting 2B this season but he was injured this spring and never made it back to the bigs. He played in 62 games in AAA ball this season and he was 65 for 248 (.262 avg, .748 OPS) with 35 runs scored, 9 homers, 39 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. 26-year old righty Nick Masset was not the most effective reliever for the White Sox this season. He pitched in 32 games (1 start) for the White Sox this season and he was 1-0 with 1 save, a 4.63 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP.

Getting Griffey Jr. was worth the gamble for the White Sox who have really been upset with the play of 1B Paul Konerko who Griffey is essentially replacing. The White Sox won’t miss either Masset or Richar as they have better players than them on the current roster.