Homecoming King: Ken Griffey Jr. Returns to Seattle

Seattle Mariners fans can break out those No. 24 jerseys again. After days of conflicting reports, Ken Griffey Jr. will be returning to where it all began, agreeing to a one-year deal with the Mariners on Wednesday.

The deal is believed to be an incentive based one-year contract. The contract calls for a $2 million base salary with an additional $2.5 million worth of incentives. An official announcement could take place as early as Thursday.

Griffey was being courted by the Mariners and the Atlanta Braves in recent days, with one year offers from both teams in hand. The Braves were informed of his decision on Wednesday evening.

The decision marks the end of rumor-filled four days between the three parties. The Atlanta Journal Constitution published a report on Tuesday that stated Griffey had chosen the Braves and were working finalize the deal. A follow-up report from MLB.com refuted that claim.

"We are still kicking things around with my family and have not made a decision," Griffey told MLB.com in the report. "This is the first time in my career that I have been a free agent, and it's nerve-racking."

In the end, the stars aligned for Griffey to return to Seattle, where he spent the first 11 seasons and belted 398 of his 611 career home runs. Griffey appeared in 10 All-Star games and won his lone MVP Award in 1997.

Last season, Griffey was slowed by a left knee injury, hitting just .249 with 18 homers and 71 RBI while splitting the season between the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox.

He underwent arthroscopic surgery on the knee in order to be ready for the start of spring training.

Over the course of a 20-year career, Griffey has put up numbers that will surely earn him a place in the National Baseball of Fame. Griffey is fifth on the all-time home run list with 611 career blasts.

Atlanta came into the picture over the weekend, offering a pleasant travel alternative to the cross-country commute that Griffey will be making with the Mariners.

The Braves hold their spring training just 20 minutes from Griffey's Orlando home. Atlanta is a mere one hour flight from Orlando, while the plane trek from Seattle clocks in at six hours.

Griffey's father played parts of three seasons with the Braves after being acquired in a trade with the New York Yankees in 1986. Braves manager Bobby Cox was serving as the club's GM at the time of that trade, leading the younger Griffey to campaign for the opportunity to play under Cox.

The Braves will continue their search for a left fielder, either via trade or the free agent market.

Free agent outfielder Garret Anderson was linked to both the Braves and Mariners and should draw interest from Atlanta now that Griffey has chosen to return to Seattle.