Ken Griffey Jr. Negotiation Plan: Case Overview, Research Paper Example

The case study regarding Ken Griffey Jr. represents an opportunity to explore the different dimensions of Major League Baseball contract negotiations and to consider what teams might offer to players during this process, as well as the challenges and conflicts that may erupt at the same time. The case study involves Ken Griffey’s move in a trade from the Seattle Mariners to the Cincinnati Reds, the city where he held very strong roots as a child growing up there. This was a turning point in Griffey’s career, and it gave him the potential for new experiences with a team which was likely to improve his level of contentment within the baseball arena.

Issues

In spite of Griffey’s talents and abilities as a strong hitter in Major League Baseball, it was clear that he was unhappy with his current team, the Seattle Mariners, and sought a change in his career. Along the way, Griffey’s desire to remain silent regarding his displeasure was not necessarily a good thing, because it led Seattle to make a number of decisions which were difficult to manage, yet it also enabled them to consider other alternatives which included a possible trade of Griffey to unload his salary, while also bringing new and younger players to the fold that could possibly provide greater benefits to the organization over the long term (Case Study). At the same time, it was necessary for Griffey to remain optimistic regarding his future, and to consider what might be available to him on other teams.

Assessment of Ken Griffey Jr.

At the time of the contract negotiation, Ken Griffey Jr. was 30 years old, which made it possible for the player to still be quite marketable to all of Major League Baseball, yet gave him the potential to ask for more money, given his veteran status and his proven market value (Case Study). Therefore, Griffey sought to determine what he might be worth in the current market, while continuing to push Seattle to the limit (Case Study). At the time, Griffey was one of Major League Baseball’s premier home run hitters, and could attract a huge audience on name alone (Case Study). Therefore, it was only natural that the Cincinnati Reds could improve its own visibility and marketability within baseball by trading for Griffey (Case Study).

Players to be Traded to Seattle

In exchange for Griffey, the Seattle Mariners were offered the following players: Mike Cameron, Brett Tomko, Antonio Perez, and Jake Meyer (Case Study). Of this group, Cameron was the most marketable and effective, as a strong hitter and baserunner (Case Study). Meanwhile, Brett Tomko, a pitcher with limited talent, could at best serve in the back end of the rotation (Case Study). Antonio Perez is a young player on the upswing, with raw potential and speed that could be a true benefit to the Mariners team (Case Study). Finally, Jake Meyer has been a fixture in the minors and does not appear to be ready for the major leagues anytime soon (Case Study). Each of these players will likely bring his own level of talent to the organization, but will also face an uphill battle with Mariners fans who are sad to see their beloved Ken Griffey Jr. go.

Cooperation of Pat Gillick

Pat Gillick’s ability to get the job done, yet remain professional and strong during the negotiation and subsequent trade process, were monumental in shaping the trade itself. This was an important opportunity to explore the different dimensions of Gillick’s body of experience, while also keeping the trade under wraps for as long as possible (Case Study). Since Gillick was fully aware of Griffey’s unhappiness in his current role, it was important to address the challenges that were involved in this decision. The issues surrounding this trade were controversial, because of Griffey’s solid reputation as an excellent player, as well as his large fanbase throughout the baseball community. Therefore, Gillick had to be careful when executing his vision to trade Griffey to achieve maximum benefits for the Mariners team.

Conflict Resolution Strategy

The proposed negotiation was difficult because of the high profile notoriety of Ken Griffey Jr., and it required a significant degree of finesse and strength on the part of the owners and general managers involved in the negotiation process. It is important to recognize that the key players in this negotiation faced a number of conflicts as a result of lack of full disclosure, while also facing challenges associated with the ability to remain as neutral as possible. Therefore, the conflicts that erupted during the negotiation led to numerous concerns that were difficult to overcome, yet paved the way for other opportunities for both Griffey and for the Seattle Mariners. During the negotiation, both the Reds and the Mariners were required to put their best face forward in an effort to achieve the desired outcomes, and to also reflect upon the different dimensions of the process that were instrumental in shaping positive and mutually beneficial outcomes for all involved parties.

References

Lewicki, R. J., Barry, B., & Saunders, D. M. (2005). Negotiation (5th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Irwin.

Lewicki, R. J., Barry, B., & Saunders, D. M. (2005). Negotiation Readings, Exercises, and Cases (5th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Irwin.