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Andruw Jones

Braves Notes: Lowe, Jones

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David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution offers his opinion on what the Braves should do about Andruw Jones and Derek Lowe.

O’Brien actually advocates a minimal signing of Jones, following his inevitable release from the Dodgers. Because of his strong desire to return to Atlanta, O’Brien feels that Jones would take even a minor-league contract with an invite to Spring Training.

What’s the worst that could happen? He’d stink in spring training and the Braves could, once and for all, wash their hands of him. Fans would know they gave him another shot and it didn’t work out…

…Hey, don’t get your hopes up. I wouldn’t count on Jones being more than a shell of what he once was. But it’s probably worth a shot.

O’Brien feels that signing Lowe is almost imperative for the Braves’ chance of being a postseason contender, and feels that having offered A.J. Burnett $80MM, there’s no reason not to spend on Lowe:

If the Braves were willing to throw that kind of money at a pitcher as injury-plagued and relatively unaccomplished as Burnett, then shouldn’t they make at least a four-year-plus-option offer at a similar average salary for Lowe?

It’s hard to fault his logic. Lowe is a reliable workhorse with a nice postseason resume and isn’t anywhere near the injury risk that Burnett is. Lowe’s age may be a deterrent, but should it really be any scarier to a team than Burnett’s health issues?

Olney’s Latest: Andruw Jones

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Buster Olney says that despite the Dodgers’ restructuring of Andruw Jones’ contract, serious regression in his abilities has resulted in minimal interest around the league. The Reds are not a good fit and the Mets aren’t interested. Regression may be directly related to a weight increase that could jeopardize his career. Olney writes,

"There is not a lot of confidence in the minds of evaluators that Jones is a candidate for a body transformation… he has never been known as a workout freak… he has looked bad in winter ball this year, reports one highly ranked executive.

The Dodgers will probably end up releasing him before spring training, and somebody will give him a chance — and he needs to show something, in a hurry, because there is a perception within the industry that he might be finished, despite his age, despite the fact that he slammed 41 homers in 2006."

Jones is owed only $5MM next season.

Jones Doesn’t Fit In Cincinnati

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John Fay has an update that addresses the recent rumors suggesting newly available Andruw Jones might be headed to the Reds–in short, Fay doesn’t see it happening.

As for reasons specific to the club, the Reds just picked up Willy Taveras to play center field, which is Jones’ position. Taveras’ status with the club makes it extremely unlikely that Jones would have a starting role, which he is apparently looking for.

More generally, Fay cites Jones’ rapidly declining OPS as a reason for the Reds to stay away. Unfortunately for Jones, that reason to stay away applies for every team.

Dodgers Rework Andruw Jones Deal

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SATURDAY, 11:23am: Buster Olney’s sources tell him that Jones will receive the $15MM he’s owed in 2009 over the next six seasons, without interest. Apparently the Dodgers are likely to call the Braves, Reds and Mets about potential trades. One source familiar with the discussions said it’s virtually certain that the Mets won’t be interested.

11:55pm: Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times says the deal cuts Jones’ 2009 salary to about $5MM.  The Dodgers agreed to trade or release him; interested teams may prefer to wait for the latter.  Shaikin says the Jones restructuring is independent of the Manny Ramirez situation.

7:51pm: Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports that the Major League Players Association has approved the contract agreement, which will defer Jones’ remaining salary.  According to an industry source, Jones will either be traded or released before the start of spring training and perhaps sometime this month.

FRIDAY, 2:38pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Dodgers and Jones have agreed to rework his contract to save the team $12MM in ’09.  Jones is likely to play for another team in the coming season.

THURSDAY, 9:55pm: As pointed out in the comments section below, Andruw’s ’09 salary could be deferred across several years and would thus gain interest, resulting in a higher total payout.  That could work for both sides.  A blog called Fantasy Sports Experience recalls a similar situation with the Mets and Bobby Bonilla in 2000.

9:40pm: Ken Gurnick of MLB.com has confirmed that Jones’ contract is being reworked.  It could be an extension or a deferred buyout. 

9:00pm: I just spoke with Simers, who tells me that the Dodgers "would do the deal with Scott Boras."  Jones’ 2009 salary "would be reduced to make him attractive" to possible suitors in a trade.  And the agreement would essentially free up money on the Dodgers’ side that would head directly towards Ramirez, another Boras client.  But it’s still unclear why Jones would want to take the paycut.  Is Boras going to pay the man out of his own pocket?  This kind of dealing is unheard of in the sports world, but you can never doubt the almighty Scott Boras.

8:38pm: T.J. Simers of the L.A. Times has heard that the Dodgers are working on a deal to unload outfielder Andruw Jones.

Simers claims that the deal would save the team $12MM and "send the guy, who couldn’t hit a thing, seeking employment elsewhere."  Jones is in the final year of a two-year contract and is set to make around $15MM in ’09.  He’s not just going to forfeit that money, so it’s not exactly clear what kind of a "deal" the article is speaking of.  A trade?  Buyouts don’t typically happen in baseball.  Nonetheless, Simers is onto something and it appears the Dodgers are readying the cash to make an offer to Manny Ramirez.

Odds And Ends: Red Sox, Andruw, Roberts

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Links for Saturday…

  • At the bottom of an interesting article about baseball’s youth movement, Peter Gammons adds that the Red Sox-Marlins Hanley Ramirez discussions "lasted all of 20 seconds" according to a Marlins official.
  • Yahoo’s Tim Brown speculates that the Nationals could have interest in Andruw Jones. I can see the Blue Jays taking him on if they can make it work financially.
  • Roch Kubatko cautions fans from reading too much into discussions about a Brian Roberts–Gavin Floyd trade.
  • Peter Schmuck hasn’t heard much on the Roberts front, but wouldn’t mind seeing the Orioles trade him for Floyd, even if they don’t acquire anyone else in the deal.
  • In another post, Schmuck argues that there’s nothing wrong with the Mark Hendrickson signing.
  • Ryan Dempster has heard good things about Milton Bradley and hopes he joins the Cubs.
  • The Yankees have no need for Manny Ramirez, Erik Bedard or over-the-top position swaps, in Peter Abraham’s opinion.
  • Jeff Moorad- who’s leading the group poised to buy the Padres- was a record-setting agent in his day. Tom Krasovic looks back at Moorad’s earlier career.
  • NPB Tracker compares Japanese teams before and after losing their stars to MLB.

No Andruw Jones Trade In The Works

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TUESDAY, 9:02am: ESPN’s Buster Olney says the Dodgers and Mets "have kept the porch light on" in case some version of a Jones-Castillo swap can be made.  He talked to a source who believes the Mets’ chances of trading Castillo before the season are 50-50.

MONDAY, 8:12pm: MLB.com’s Marty Noble heard from a person familiar with the discussions between the Mets and Dodgers that "nothing is ongoing and nothing is going to happen." The clubs had preliminary discussions about trading Jones for Castillo during the Winter Meetings, but nothing is in the works now.

3:50pm: According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Dodgers and Mets have discussed an Andruw Jones trade.  Jones is still owed $22.1MM, and the Dodgers are "highly motivated" to move him.  Olney says it’s unlikely the Dodgers would have interest in Luis Castillo, however.  If the Mets wouldn’t be sending a bad contract back, I’d imagine they’d want the Dodgers to pay approximately $20MM.  Olney says the Mets would use Jones in right field – Ryan Church’s position this year.

Manny Is Dodgers’ First Choice

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Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times talked to Dodgers GM Ned Colletti, who said Manny Ramirez is the team’s first choice.  Colletti hasn’t heard from Manny’s agent Scott Boras since Mark Teixeira signed a week ago.  As reported yesterday, the Dodgers have interest in Adam Dunn and Bobby Abreu as backup plans.  Pat Burrell and Garret Anderson are not on the team’s radar.

Shaikin reiterates Marty Noble’s story from yesterday – talks to unload Andruw Jones on the Mets fizzled a while ago.

Dodgers Interested In Dunn, Abreu

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4:28pm: A very Dodgers-centric day here at MLBTR.  MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick reports that in addition to Dunn, the Dodgers will soon open up talks with Bobby Abreu.  They’d like to move Andruw Jones or Juan Pierre if they sign an outfielder.

Gurnick adds that pitching is Ned Colletti’s priority – the Dodgers are eyeing Jon Garland, Randy Wolf, and relief help.

1:46pm: According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, the Dodgers contacted Adam Dunn’s agent over the holidays to express interest.  If the Dodgers sign Dunn, Manny Ramirez could be in a really bad place.  Other teams showing interest in Dunn: the Cubs, Nationals, Mariners, and Orioles.  All five teams have surfaced in prior reports, with the Brewers also getting a mention while they were mulling a Mike Cameron trade.

There was a report nine days ago stating that the Cubs are Dunn’s first choice.  Today Stark puts it this way: "The Cubs had believed to be his top choice before the Dodgers entered the mix."

Odds and Ends: Wigginton, Andruw, Royals

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Links and notes for Tuesday…

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