Negotiation

Bruce Barry's Introduction The Ken Griffey Jr. Negotiation
This case is a journalist's account (published in Sports Illustrated) of negotiations surrounding a professional baseball player in the U.S. named Ken Griffey, Jr. that took place during the winter of 2000. I realize that you may know little or nothing about Griffey or about the sport of baseball or the nature of U.S. major league baseball teams, contracts, and negotiations. This brief introductory note is intended to bring you up to speed on some basic details that will help you sort through the article on the Griffey negotiations. You do not need to be particularly knowledgeable about baseball to understand and analyze what went on, but it does help to know a little bit about the context in which Griffey's contract was up for grabs. So read this document first before you read the case article itself.
Who is Ken Griffey, Jr.? Griffey (also known as "Junior") is generally regarded as one of the premier professional baseball players in the two North American leagues collectively known as "Major League Baseball." Consequently, many other teams covet his talents and would like to get him. For those who care to know the baseball-related details, he is an outfielder

Seattle presented Griffey a new contract proposal on July 17 -- a deal thought to be worth $135 million, which would have made Griffey the highest-paid player in baseball.

The deal came together late yesterday when the Mariners formally asked the commissioner's office for permission to allow Goldberg to negotiate directly with the Reds.

"I think our goal is to obtain players that we think can help us in 2000, but I think we have to look a little bit further ahead than 2000," said Gillick, former general manager in Toronto and Baltimore. "In a package for Kenny, I think you'll be looking for a mix of players who can help you for the moment and in the future."