BaseballNewsOnline.com

For weeks now, the baseball world has been hearing rumors about Ken Griffey Jr returning home to the city where he enjoyed his greatest Hall of Fame building success. Today, Seattle made it official by signing Griffey Jr. to an incentive laden one year contract that could pay him in excess of 4 million dollars. This came after Griffey Jr. seemed to be headed to the Atlanta Braves as late as Thursday.

Griffey Jr. leads the Mariners franchise in a ton of offensive categories, and should be a sure fire first ballot Hall of Famer. The boost that this signing gives both the Mariners and Griffey Jr. is without measure as it revitalizes both. Griffey Jr. has been largely injured over the past decade, and even had off season knee surgery this past year. Griffey did pass a physical to cement the deal however, and seems to be healthier than he has been in years.

Griffey left Seattle under very tense circumstances when he pushed to leave. Though their were hard feelings back then, they are not seen in the happy faces around Seattle today. The fans never stopped their love affair with the exciting ball player, and now they are sure to flock to the stadium to see their hero close out the twilight of his fantastic career.

Griffey Jr. has always been close to the Mariners President Chuck Armstrong, and that was surely a key component to his resigning with Seattle over Atlanta. Also, he spent his best years in Seattle and got his MLB start there. Having his career come full circle in this way is a dream situation for any ballplayer.

The Mariners are a team that was in severe need of saving. They were the first 100+million payroll ball club to lose 100 games and the atmosphere of losing has been thick for several years now. The return of Griffey should energize not only the ball club, but the ticket sales. The Mariners needed some good news.

They got it in the return of their hero….Ken Griffey Jr.