There was a time when paying Ken Griffey Jr. millions of dollars could be a badge of honor for the Cincinnati Reds. When he's one of your highest-paid players in 2023, there's a problem.
Griffey still counts for $3.6 million on Cincinnati's books, per Spotrac. Among current Reds players, only Joey Votto and Wil Myers will make more. Mike Moustakas also had $22 million outstanding on his contract when he was released in January.
The Reds acquired Griffey in a blockbuster trade with the Seattle Mariners. Along with the move, Cincinnati inked the 1997 American League MVP to a nine-year extension totaling at least $116.