Ken Griffey Jr. will play out the remainder of the 2008 season with a contending ballclub, the Chicago White Sox. On Thursday, the day of the MLB trading deadline, the Cincinnati Reds dealt the Hall of Fame bound Griffey to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Danny Richar and Nick Masset.

“One of the things that factored into this was a guy who has had a great career but has not won a championship and how motivated he’s going to be to get on that stage,” White Sox GM Kenny Williams said. “That is a factor and will always be a factor for me.”

Though Griffey was surprised by the trade, he understands the opportunity at hand.

“I think he was just a little bit surprised, maybe, but I think he thought about it and said he wanted to talk to his family about it,” Reds GM Walt Jocketty said. “I think he agreed it’s a very good opportunity for him, and the club obviously wanted him and pursued him and came after him. That’s got to be a good feeling for him, I guess.”

Griffey will join a Chicago outfield already including Carlos Quentin, Nick Swisher, and Jermaine Dye. For the time being, says Ozzie Guillen, Griffey will play center field and DH at times. New teammate Nick Swisher is thrilled by the trade.

“I just think there’s a lot of added things he can bring,” Swisher said. “I mean, I had posters of that guy on my wall growing up. So I think it’s going to be an awesome thing for all of us.”

Griffey’s job in Chicago will be providing pop, and solidity from the left side of the plate for the predominantly righty White Sox. Griffey was honest about his skill set with Kenny Williams when news of the trade occurred.

“When I talked to Junior, he was very honest,” Williams said. “He said, ‘Well, I’ve got to tell you, I don’t know that you’re going to see the guy from Seattle.’ I said, ‘We’re not looking for that guy from Seattle. What we’re looking for is for you to use your instincts.”’