Mariners offer Ibanez arbitration, had preliminary talks with Griffey

The Mariners drafted Griffey No. 1 overall in 1987 and put him in their opening day lineup while he was still a teenager.

Zduriencik stopped short of saying Seattle has an "interest" in signing him.

"I'm not sure I'm prepared to answer that. I should know more in a week to 10 days," he said.

The White Sox declined Griffey's $16.5 million contract option for 2009 at the end of October. Griffey is getting a $4 million buyout to complete a $116.5 million, nine-year deal he agreed to with his hometown Cincinnati Reds before the 2000 season -- after he demanded a trade from Seattle.

Griffey was an All-Star 10 times with Seattle. He's been an All-Star just three times since, the last time in 2007.

He hit a combined .249 with 18 homers and 71 RBI in 143 games last season for the Reds and White Sox. He agreed to a midseason trade to Chicago for a chance to play in the postseason and went 2-for-10 as the White Sox lost in four games to Tampa Bay in the first round of the AL playoffs.

Griffey had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in October to repair torn meniscus and torn cartilage, a condition that affected his power numbers.

"He will undoubtedly help some club, both on the field and in the clubhouse," White Sox general manager Ken Williams said when Griffey became a free agent. "Pure class."

Griffey passed Sammy Sosa for fifth on the career home run list last season and has 611, trailing only Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714) and Willie Mays (660). Griffey is 18th with 1,772 RBI.

He might not fit Seattle's massive rebuilding project. The Mariners last season became the first team with a $100 million payroll to lose 100 games.

When he came back with the Reds for an interleague series in Seattle in June 2007, Griffey said he wanted to retire as a Mariner. He didn't specify whether he'd like to return to Seattle as an active player or simply for a ceremonial contract before retiring.