Aging sluggers not likely to find financial happiness this offseason

A hypothetical workplace quandary in these unsettled times:

You're nearing the end of your career constructing widgets, and you've been in your prime earning years for the past decade or so. You've done very well -- in fact, you're one of the best widget-constructors in the history of widget-constructing. But now the company doesn't want to pay you that salary anymore. There are younger widget-constructors they'd like to bring along. In fact, you'd probably have to make do with 50 percent less salary.

You'd probably retire, right? Well, that's the scenario that Ken Griffey Jr. faces today.

Now pro sports is much different than an average business, and Griffey is earning on a much higher scale than your average cubicle-dweller, of course - Griffey, 38, made $16.5 million in 2008. But the market for an outfielder who hit .249 with 18 homers and 71 RBI in 143 games is a lot less than that. And there's no argument that he's not the same player he was a decade ago, of course. He's still capable in the outfield, but will likely need some days off, at least as a DH.

Without the other baggage, Griffey is in a similar situation as Barry Bonds was in 2007. A free agent left-handed slugger, one of the best all-time, not nearly the same player he once was. The Chicago White Sox don't want Griffey back, but odds are good that Griffey will find a home if his dignity allows - maybe back in Seattle?

Bonds? I have a feeling we haven't heard the last of him, even though he was totally unwanted in 2008.

And while a few free agents could get huge deals - CC Sabathia and Francisco Rodriguez immediately come to mind - there are many others in a similar quandary to Griffey this offseason, such as Jason Giambi, Brian Giles and Pedro Martinez. Even Manny Ramirez might not get what he made this past season. The Dodgers would likely give him a big deal with a lot of money up front, but not the long-term contract he's likely to seek.

Who else is a free agent? Check out the running list, team by team. (Coming soon, the position-by-position scorecard.)