Dodgers Rework Andruw Jones Deal

the braves could use his defensive ability back, and maybe he will turn his career around and hit better. Besides hes better than nothing for the braves, because i think frank wren has just decided to let his franchise suck one more year.

If we dont sign an outfielder, then pierre would most likely get the starting job without a trade. But seeing as the 2 leadoff hitters has failed the last 2 years when both furcal and pierre were healthy, I really dont see it happening.

The funny thing is, I can't think of a team that would want Jones even if he was free. All he would be doing is blocking players that can still play the game.

"are there any other dodger fans out there who don't understand the logic of letting the whole world know that if you don't trade fatty, you're going to release him? how do they expect to get anything?! i'm stoked we've restructured, but flummoxed about their strategy to move him..."

It could be a call to act now for teams that are playing around with the numerous free agents out there. Act before someone else does.

I'd like him on the Yanks. I imaginbe the Red Sox are also looking into it (Ellsbury is extremely one dimensional and Ortiz and Lowell may be hurt).

Not going to get a bidding war but might get one to jump up.

"Hu is now a trade chip, hard to think why not with Raffy locked up Ivan DeJesus in wait."

Ivan DeJesus is also a trade chip. Furcal is signed for 3 years. DeJesus will probably be up in the bigs in 2010, when Furcal still has 2 more years. DeJesus will be traded, as you just don't let DeJesus rot in the minors till 2012.

"are there any other dodger fans out there who don't understand the logic of letting the whole world know that if you don't trade fatty, you're going to release him? how do they expect to get anything?! i'm stoked we've restructured, but flummoxed about their strategy to move him... "

Not really.

It's a call to action, especially for the AL teams. There are quite a few teams, I would think, that wouldn't mind carrying Jones as a 5th OF at the league minimum. If he's released and you're at the back of the waiver chain. This is also still an opportunity to move a bad contract.

Chances are slim that a trade gets done, but its not entirely stupid that everyone knows Andruw will either be traded or released.

1 - As a Boston fan I would love for the Yankees to make themselves worse by swapping any person on their team for Jones.

2 - This isn't the NFL, there is no reason Jones should not get interest on the deferment. Basically he is giving the Dodgers an interest free loan.

The Yankees are going to be the start of the opt-out clause craze. This hurts small market teams who will not be able to sign a long term contract with someone without an opt out.

Now the Dodgers and this crap. Jones is a learning example for the league about overspending and bad contracts. Now they have found a way to lessen the blow.

This is another reason there should be a salary cap. Jones' original contract would be counted towards the cap. They were ignorant and made a terrible signing. Deal with it.

I think Jones will find interest. It's all a matter of at what cost? The Dodger, under almost ever scenario will have to eat his entire contract. A team that may want to move to the head of the line and secure him w/o competition, might pony up a "suspect" just to get it done. Someone like a Jeff Karsten or Darrel Rasner type player. Guys who the Yanks gave up because they were expendable yet, warm bodies that you stick in AAA and bring up to fill in when needed.

"But aside from Man-NY being an option do you think the Dodgers would see that as a fair trade? 1 year of Nady for Young and Hu I think is fair?"

Delwyn Young has shown an ability to hit in every level of the minor leagues. In 2007 he had 54 doubles. He had a .350 OBP every year in the minors except one. In September 2007 he had a great showing in 19 games (.166 OPS+). His major flaw has been his inability to defend. He was originally a 2B, but couldn't hack it defensively, thus forcing him to the OF. Since Nady is also a negative OF, it doesn't make sense to trade Young (who has more offensive talent than Nady) AND Hu for 1 year of Nady.
I believe Young is going to be an offensive force if given a chance. I wish he could have been adequate defensively at 2B where his value would have been tremendous. Sadly, I don't feel like the Dodgers will give him a chance, and he will end up being a pretty good LF/DH for some team like the Pirates or Royals. Either way, Delwyn Young is a better value than Nady, who is just average offensively.

YanksFan,

I hope the Yankees get Jones, the Red Sox should give up a prospect just to get Jones on their roster.

The Dodgers could have traded Jones and paid all his salary anyway. He has the same exact trade value as he did before. Nothing.

Opt out clauses are a joke. Just sign a 3 year deal if you want an opt out after three years. Then you will be a free agent and can sign with the same team if you want to.

I agree. With CC I think the Yanks read the situation as being his wife was not excited about NY vs a LA/SF option and in order to offer an out in case NY didn't fit CC & family they offered the opt out clause to get the deal done quickly. Notice they didn't do so for either AJ or Tex.

As for Dejesus, I don't know if I would keep at AAA for next 3 years. Furcal's got a limited no trade clause as it is and will be a 10 & 5 player in 2010. His 2012 option vests if he gets 600 PA in 2011. Not sure he would be so easy to move. Meanwhile, DeJesus has a high value now.

I wouldnt mind Jone come to Cincy

I wouldn't mind the Braves getting Andruw as long as it doesn't take any prospect of real consequence. He is still one of the better defensive CF in the game and there's always the chance he will rebound enough offensively to make him league average when defense is considered. Give him a month or two to show some sort of spark offensively and if its clear he's done there are plenty of other options available on the ball club.

Are people really still bringing up the JD Drew signing as if it was some terrible decision on Theo's part? Yeah, he was terrible in 2007, but it seems clear at this point that his performance that year was probably an aberration. He's still above average in RF defensively, and when he's healthy he's one of the better hitters at the position. The Red Sox have the resources to deal with an extended DL visit for Drew, so I think they're happy as long as he plays in 120-140 games and is ready come October.

Its actually interesting to take a look at the value fangraphs assign Drew versus what he's earned so far. Even in just 109 games last season, fangraphs has Drew as being worth over 20 million while he earned just 14. That brings his total value in the regular season to 25.6 million over the past 2 seasons, compared to 28 million in salary. When you take into account Drew's post season performance, I think you might even be able to say he's been worth the money so far.

"Drew's opt out clause had nothing to do with the Red Sox.

The Red Sox don't give out opt out or no trade clauses."

Manny Ramirez had an NTC. JD Drew has a limited NTC (although its only 2 teams), Lowell has a NTC, Dice-K has a NTC.

Ellsbury has some skills and is definately not one dimensional.

Kid has some very good speed, has some power, needs to up his OBP but he was better at that in the minors so he may improve there.

Now a one dimensional "leadoff" type hitter is Taveras.

If the Red Sox benched Ellsbury to start Jones I'm sure there would be plenty of fans ticked by this.

Posted by: schellis | January 03, 2009 at 01:16 PM

Who is this?

.264 Avg .312 OBP .365 SLG .677 OPS

Give you a hint. He's a starting CF on a major NE team not in NY.

NJYankeesFan,

Since when is NY part of New England?

Who is the Yankees CF?

Imagine how dominant the Sox would be if they spent another 75-90 million to equal the payroll of the Yankees!

The Reds should do a deal that sends Andruw Jones and Ivan DeJesus (a good shortstop prospect)for Daryl Thompson and another decent prospect to go along with the deal. Also the Reds should get Edmonds and Sean Casey to add depth in the Reds roster. They need Mark Mulder as a backup lefty guy. Just incase Rhodes or Bray get injured.

Defense guys, defense. Damon and Swisher are horrible CFers defensively.

Ellsbury is very good defensively.

I'm not saying Ellsbury is better than Damon/Swisher, but Damon/Swisher are not MUCH better than Ellsbury.

As a Braves fan, I know all too well how Andruw's work ethic and attitude effect his performance, but I'd still like to see him back in Atlanta, playing LF.

For the amount of money that it would cost the Braves ($2 or $3 million) I don't see much of a downside. If he struggles, platoon him with Matt Diaz. If he falls flat again, release him.

I think he needs to go to a team where he'd feel comfortable. Atlanta's the only place that makes any sense.

Frank Wren hasn't done much this off season, and while this wouldn't be a move to put the Braves over the top, it would potentially solve their LF and power hitting problems if Andruw could rebound to even half of his 2005 self.

"Are people really still bringing up the JD Drew signing as if it was some terrible decision on Theo's part? Yeah, he was terrible in 2007"

Well, in 2007 Drew was kind of the anti-ARod. He sucked all season and then got hot for the playoffs and World Series.

No matter where Jones goes (whether its a trade or he is released) you really have to hand it to Colletti. This is the first move I can remember (besides trading for Manny) that I completely agree with. I hope this is a sign of things to come with him cuz he is actually looking like a GM not and not a total bonehead.

Way to take it to Jones and Boras Colletti, I'm proud of you for the first time!

"Ivan DeJesus isn't going anywhere; he's the long term answer at 2B for the Dodgers. Scouts have said he's a better fit there because he doesn't have a plus arm."

I couldn't agree more. Hu is much more likely to be traded he will be virtually expendable if DeJesus is as good as we all expect him to be. Hu is starting to look like another LaRoche, a AAAA player who can't hit major league hitting.

"My numbers I posted for Ellsbury were road splits.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/splits?playerId=28637

He is good at knocking the ball off the monster and not much else.

In fact his road splits are very similar to Brett Gardner's September numbers (after a horrid first couple of weeks up).
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/splits?playerId=29174

Both are similar. Slap hitters. Plus defense. Ellsbury just looks Ok due to his park."

well, good for the red sox that they don't only play road games then, huh?

Andruw sucks.He should be outright released.

If the Braves take on Andrew, they should give him a minor league contract with the right to show up at spring trainning and see if he remembers how to hold a bat and actually hit the ball with it. No roster spot without earning it, like everyone else.