Yankees Trade Dissatisfied Griffey to Braves for Washington, Zuvella

Outfielder Ken Griffey, who has often expressed his unhappiness as a platoon player on the New York Yankees, was traded to the Atlanta Braves Sunday for outfielder Claudell Washington and minor league shortstop Paul Zuvella.

The trade was announced seconds after Griffey grounded into a game-ending double play with two runners on base in the Yankees 6-3 loss to Toronto. It was their 10th consecutive home loss.

Griffey, 36, who came to the Yankees in a trade with Cincinnati on Nov. 4, 1981, played in 59 games this season, batting .303 with nine home runs and 26 runs batted in.

His lifetime batting average for 12 major league seasons is .300 with 109 homers and 675 RBIs.

Griffey failed to appear for the Yankees’ game with Boston on June 16. He showed up the next day, claimed he had personal problems, and was fined $10,000.

Washington, 31, an 11-year veteran, has been a member of the Braves since being signed as a free agent on Nov. 15, 1980. He played for the New York Mets in 1980 and becomes the 34th player to wear the uniform of both New York teams.

In 40 games this season through Saturday, Washington batted .270 with 5 home runs and 14 RBIs. He has 124 career homers and 649 RBIs.

Washington began his career in Oakland in 1974. He was traded to Texas on March 26, 1977 and the Rangers dealt him to the Chicago White Sox on May 16, 1978. The White Sox, in turn, dealt him to the Mets on June 7, 1980.

He spent part of this season on the disabled list.

Zuvella, 27, has been a member of the Braves’ organization since his selection in the 15th round of the June 1980 amateur draft. He has appeared in 97 games in parts of the last four seasons for Atlanta, batting .240 with 53 hits in 221 at-bats.