Braves Considering Tom Glavine, Andruw Jones
The AP has an article up discussing the Braves’ consideration of free agents Tom Glavine and Andruw Jones.
Glavine will see a doctor next week, and then the Braves discuss a one-year deal with him. Glavine, 43 in March, had elbow flexor tendon surgery in late August.
Regarding Jones, GM Frank Wren said, "I want to discuss it a little more internally to determine which direction we want to go." Jones was released by the Dodgers yesterday. David O’Brien says the Braves are reluctant to offer Jones the Major League deal he craves.
Dodgers Release Andruw Jones
Tony Jackson of the Los Angeles Daily News reports that Andruw Jones has been released by the Dodgers.
As MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick points out, any team that signs Jones to the major league minimum will pay only $400K and the Dodgers will pay the rest of the $21MM he’s owed. We know the Braves are reluctant to bring Jones back unless he signs a minor league contract.
Braves Reluctant To Bring Back Jones?
According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, the Braves appear reluctant to offer Andruw Jones a major league contract if he’s released by the Dodgers. If the Braves offer him a contract they would have to clear a space on their 40 man roster and risk losing a player, which could set them back more than the $400k they’d owe Jones.
Bowman writes that "all indications are [Jones] would have to sign a minor league contract" to have the chance to play in Atlanta again. However, he has interest in returning, so he could accept a minor league deal.
Dodgers To Release Andruw Jones On Thursday
8:29pm: Several e-mailers have pointed out that Andruw Jones is in attendance at the Duke-Georgia Tech men’s basketball game and is wearing an Atlanta Braves hat. Interesting, eh?
7:46pm: According to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, the Dodgers are expected to officialy release Andruw Jones Thursday morning.
Jones, you’ll remember, agreed to defer the $21.1MM remaining on his contract back in early January to open up payroll for the Dodgers, and for a chance at a fresh start with a new team. The Dodgers have reportedly discussed a few potential trades this week, but all talks have apparently fallen flat. He has expressed interest in returning to the Braves.
Jones Has Interest In Returning To Atlanta
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andruw Jones has interest in returning to the Atlanta Braves, MyFoxAtlanta.com reports.
In a video on the TV station’s Web site, Jones is shown working out with current Braves Chipper Jones and Brian McCann.
“It would be nice to kind of finish my career here,” Jones told the station from an Atlanta batting cage.
The station also interviews McCann, who said Jones, 31, looks great.
Reporter Buck Lanford notes that the Dodgers are supposed to trade or release Jones by Thursday.
Odds and Ends: Andruw, Manny, Hudson
Links for Monday…
- David Chase lists the signs a pitcher may be primed for a breakout.
- The Dodgers considered trying to void Andruw Jones‘ contract, but waived possible action as part of their new agreement.
- Dodgers assistant GM Kim Ng on the Manny Ramirez talks.
- Michael Silverman explains why the Red Sox are not inclined to deal with Scott Boras.
- Dave Sheinin talked to one exec who predicted a one-year deal for Orlando Hudson.
- The Tigers signed Taiwanese lefty Fu-Te Ni.
- The alleged Japanese interest in Eric Hinske may have come from the SoftBank Hawks, in November.
- Pitcher win (and dollar) values are now up at FanGraphs. Cliff Lee was worth $20.2MM in 2008.
Wren Considering Trade For Pitcher
Braves GM Frank Wren was on 790 The Zone yesterday. Wren explained that the Braves have other options besides Derek Lowe, and had several things in play prior to John Smoltz leaving:
There’s other guys out there that we like. I have trade proposals on my desk as we speak that would bring another pitcher to us. There’s other things we can do…The trade proposal that I have on my desk – that was put in place six weeks ago.
So far this winter the Braves added two starters: Javier Vazquez and Kenshin Kawakami (pending a physical).
Other notes: Wren wouldn’t comment on Andruw Jones, and doesn’t see the Braves acquiring Manny Ramirez or Jake Peavy.
Braves Rumors: Andruw Jones, Kawakami
4:04pm: More on Kawakami from MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. He’s apparently narrowed his focus to a small group of teams. Bowman isn’t sure if the Braves are in that group but he says Kawakami is impressed with the organization.
11:35am: Today we have a few rumors from John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus. The Braves "will likely sign Andruw Jones" if the Dodgers end up releasing him. Perrotto also believes the Braves are in the lead for Kenshin Kawakami.
Dodgers Rumors: Manny, Andruw, Saito
Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times has the latest on the Dodgers, as well as free agent pitcher Pedro Martinez.
- Nothing much to report with Manny Ramirez – there has been no new offer from the Dodgers yet but the two sides are still talking. That two-year $45MM offer Scott Boras dissed isn’t looking too bad anymore.
- Boras is "just looking for a situation" for Andruw Jones. I see. Boras had a meeting in November with Ned Colletti and Joe Torre and the three decided to rework the contract and get him out of L.A.
- Hernandez says Trevor Hoffman remains a possibility but the Dodgers haven’t heard back from Takashi Saito.
- The Dodgers are not pursuing Pedro, but he’s narrowed his choices to two teams in each league according to his agent.
- Diamond Leung tells us the Dodgers signed infielder Juan Castro to a minor league deal.
Reds Still Looking At Baldelli, Hairston Jr.
The Cincinnati Reds remain interested in free agents Rocco Baldelli and Jerry Hairston Jr., MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon reports.
Reds general manager Walt Jocketty told Sheldon that he has talked with their agent, Casey Close, during the weekend.
Jocketty said that he expects something to happen this week with regard to Hairston Jr.
The Reds have had no talks with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Andruw Jones and appear not to be interested, Sheldon notes.
The Cincinnati Enquirer’s John Fay also spoke with Jocketty. In addition to the Reds’ stance on Baldelli, Hairston Jr. and Jones, Fay notes that the Reds won’t be trading first baseman Joey Votto.
Jocketty also told Fay that Votto (Canada), Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto (Dominican Republic) might play in the World Baseball Classic.