ORLANDO, Fla. -- Atlanta Braves officials denied Wednesday they have signed outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. and believe Griffey is leaning towards signing with the Seattle Mariners.

Braves general manager Frank Wren told WSB-TV Channel 2's sports director Chuck Dowdle the team continues to negotiate with Griffey, but said no deal is imminent.

"He is still contemplating our offer," Wren told Dowdle.

Some news organizations reported Tuesday that Griffey had signed with the Braves.

The outfielder reportedly is considering offers from both Atlanta and the Seattle Mariners, his original major league team.

"He (Griffey) feels a certain emotional attachment to Seattle and that is making the decision difficult for him," Wren told Chuck Dowdle.

Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones said he's talked with Griffey by phone, hoping to persuade him to sign with the Braves.

"Certainly all signs point to this being a good fit for him," Jones said after a spring training workout. "He's wanted to play here for a long time. Now he gets his opportunity. We'll see if he follows through."

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

He added that he hoped to decide by Wednesday morning, perhaps in time to report to the Braves for their first full-squad workout. Griffey lives in nearby Orlando and signaled that Atlanta had the upper hand in the negotiations because he could be closer to his family, both in spring training and during the season.

"You know how close I am to my wife and kids," he told mlb.com.

Braves manager Bobby Cox said he would be thrilled to have Griffey on a team that's trying to bounce back from its worst season since 1990. Atlanta went 72-90 and finished fourth in the NL East, 20 games behind the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies.

"Two years ago, he hit 30 homers," Cox pointed out.

The Mariners have declined to discuss their efforts to bring Griffey back to his original team. He split last season between the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox before becoming a free agent.

When Seattle manager Don Wakamatsu was asked about Griffey on Tuesday at the team's spring training complex in Peoria, Ariz., he cupped his ear and jokingly pretended he couldn't hear.

"What? What was that?" Wakamatsu said.

The rookie manager stuck with his plan to block out any talk about Griffey, saying he'll work with whatever players management provides.

"I just spent the last 2, 2 1/2 hours dealing with what I'm dealing with here," Wakamatsu said after a workout for pitchers and catchers. "And I'm happy with that."

The Braves were more open about their desire to sign Griffey. Jones said he would love to have a guy with 611 career homers hitting behind him.

"If he wants to come here and be part of this, hit in the middle of the lineup and play a lot, it's a good spot for him," Jones said. "I would welcome him with open arms. I know that he's still Ken Griffey Jr. He's got some good baseball left in him."