Ken Griffey Jr. Will Be Fourth Highest Paid Player For Cincinnati Reds In 2023

Ken Griffey Jr., a retired MLB legend and Hall of Famer, is still making headlines even though he hasn't played professional baseball in over a decade.

The 53-year-old is set to receive over $3.5 million from the Cincinnati Reds this season, making him one of the team's highest-paid players, despite not having played for them since 2008 and retiring in 2010.

This is due to a deferred salary from a nine-year, $112.5 million deal he signed with the Reds in 2000.

If you look at the Cincinnati Reds 2023 payroll. You have:

Joey Votto - 25 million
Wil Myers - 6 million
Ken Griffey Jr - 3.6 million

That’s right, Griffey Jr is the 3rd highest paid player on the Reds payroll this season pic.twitter.com/5rtGCt6F9L

— BaseballHistoryNut (@nut_history) March 24, 2023

Griffey Jr. had a remarkable career in baseball and quickly became one of the most exciting players in the sport after making his MLB debut with the Seattle Mariners in 1989.

He played alongside his father, Ken Griffey Sr., for two seasons, and they were the only father-son duo to hit back-to-back home runs in a game. Griffey Jr. won ten consecutive Gold Glove awards for his fielding abilities, making him a fan favorite in the 1990s.

Something you didn’t know you needed today:

Cincinnati legend, MLB icon, & former #Reds OF Ken Griffey Jr “The Kid” hitting BP dingers at age 53

The Reds are still paying him in ‘23, & he’s their 3rd highest paid player, how about DH, Griffey? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/39AuK1ekqY

— Nati Sports (@Nati_Sports) March 17, 2023

However, his performance declined after he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in 2000, and a series of injuries contributed to his retirement in 2010.

Despite this, Griffey Jr. is still receiving deferred payments from his contract with the Reds, making him one of the highest-paid players on the team's payroll for the 2023 season.

According to Spotrac, only Joey Votto, Mike Moustakas (who now plays for the Colorado Rockies), and Wil Myers will earn more than Griffey Jr. on the team this season.

Ken Griffey Jr. last played for the Reds in 2008, but he's still earning a check 💰 pic.twitter.com/qBa7aRXZjv

— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 26, 2023

The Cincinnati Reds have a 40-man payroll of just over $101.7 million for 2023, which is lower than only the Oakland Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Baltimore Orioles.

While some have suggested celebrating Griffey Jr. like we do Bobby Bonilla on his deferred payment day, it is undeniable that his financial accomplishment is impressive, and his legacy as a baseball player will continue to be remembered for years to come. Photo Credit: Jody Gomez-USA TODAY Sports