It was a no-brainer, right? Nobody else had Ken Griffey Jr.'s numbers in the American League last season.
He led in home runs with 56 and was tops in the majors in RBIs with 147.The Gold Glove center fielder also led his league in runs scored (124), total bases (393), slugging percentage (.646), extra base hits and intentional walks .
Still, Griffey wasn't sure if he was going to get his first Most Valuable Player award on Wed-nes-day. He saw what happened to Seattle Mariners teammate Alex Rodriguez last year.
"I didn't really want to think about it," Griffey said. "I've never been in this situation where I was called the front runner. You know how superstitious I am. When anybody wanted to talk about it, I said, `We'll wait and see what hap-pens.' "
He didn't have to worry. In fact, he became the league's ninth unanimous MVP.
Griffey, who will earn $7.75 million to play for the Mariners in 1998 and is contracted through 2000, is an eight-time All-Star.
In receiving all 28 first-place votes and 392 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers Association of America, Griffey became the first unanimous AL pick since Thomas in 1993, and the 13th unanimous selection overall.
New York Yankees first baseman Tino Martinez was second with 24 second-place votes and four thirds for 248 points, followed by Thomas (172 points) and Baltimore reliever Randy Myers (128).
Griffey became the Mariners' first AL MVP. A year ago, Seattle shortstop Rodriguez was second after winning the batting championship, finishing three points behind Juan Gonzalez of Texas. Griffey was fourth in last year's voting.
TRADING THE UNIT? Randy Johnson might have thrown his last pitch for the Seattle Mariners.
The team disclosed Wednesday it will not offer the left-hander a contract extension beyond next season.
"It was a very difficult decision," Mariners president Chuck Armstrong said. "But in view of what Randy wanted in the way of a extension, we just didn't think it was a wise investment."
Armstrong said general manager Woody Woodward will field trade offers.
Johnson is said to be wanting "Greg Maddux money" - more than $11 million a year.
JOHNSON STILL LOOKING: A week after quitting as manager of the Baltimore Orioles, Davey Johnson is looking for another team. Preferably one with an owner he can stand.
Johnson, 54, gave up his "dream job" in Baltimore on Nov. 5, the same day he was voted AL Manager of the Year, because of repeated clashes with owner Peter Angelos.
SOJO RE-SIGNS: Luis Sojo re-signed with the New York Yankees, agreeing to a two-year, $1.6 million contract.