MLB stars, when they sign long-term deals, like to have some money deferred, with the future and life after baseball in mind.
It’s a nice way to secure a payday even after retirement.
Chris Davis, a former Baltimore Orioles slugger, will start earning some deferred money until 2037.
He is not the first one and probably won’t be the last, though.
A famous MLB star has been doing it for years: Ken Griffey Jr., who played his last few years with the Cincinnati Reds before returning to Seattle to retire there.
Not only is Griffey being paid even though he retired in 2010: he is actually one of their highest-paid players.
“Ken Griffey Jr. will continue to be one of the highest paid Cincinnati Reds this season and next as well. He has been receiving $3,590,000 per year from the Reds since 2009 and will for two more years,” Codify Baseball tweeted.
Ken Griffey Jr. will continue to be one of the highest paid Cincinnati Reds this season and next as well. He has been receiving $3,590,000 per year from the Reds since 2009 and will for two more years. pic.twitter.com/NH8bUoaV8c
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) December 14, 2022
The Reds Are Still On The Hook For A Few More Griffey Checks
Of course, that speaks more about the Reds than about Griffey, to be fair.
They could have a competitive team if they wanted, but decided to rebuild after the 2021 season and started to cut payroll and trade their best players.
As a result, they have a cheap roster that will probably not contend in 2023.
Back when they were comfortable spending money, they signed Griffey to a nine-year, $116.5 million contract in February 2000.
That was seen as a huge deal at the time.
Some of that money was going to be deferred until 2024, so Griffey still has a few checks left to collect.
He wasn’t as good with the Reds as he was with the Mariners, but still managed to give them some good years.
