AFJF Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 Preliminary agreement would give Jones $36.2 million Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ Andruw Jones is following Joe Torre to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Gold Glove center fielder and the Dodgers reached a preliminary agreement Wednesday night on a $36.2 million, two-year contract that gives him the fifth-highest average salary in the major leagues. Jones, the former Atlanta star who has won 10 straight Gold Gloves, is coming off one of the worst offensive seasons of his career. But if he rebounds, he could give the Dodgers a desperately needed boost in the middle of the lineup. He must pass a physical for the deal to be completed, a person familiar with the negotiations said, speaking on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made. A five-time All-Star, Jones will receive a $12.2 million signing bonus, of which $5.1 million is payable next year, $2.1 million in 2009 and $5 million in 2010. He well get salaries of $9 million next year and $15 million in 2009, and also will receive a no-trade clause. His agreement with the Dodgers was first reported by the Los Angeles Times on its Web site. Scott Boras, his agent, wouldn't confirm the agreement but sounded as if a deal had fallen into place. "Being on a competitive team was a very, very important part of his process," he said. Jones hit .222 this season, his lowest average since he batted .217 in 106 at-bats as a rookie in 1996. His 26 home runs were his fewest since 1997. He drove in 94 runs for the Braves, but finished with a paltry .311 on-base percentage. Had Jones finished with big numbers, he likely would have sought a longer-term agreement. Boras said there were really only two options when it came to length. "Very, very long-term or very, very short term," he said. "Nothing in between." Jones didn't consider a one-year contract. "I wouldn't put a player in that position, mainly because [he] just went through that," Boras said. "That was never an option." Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti did not immediately return an e-mail seeking comment. Jones is a .263 career hitter with 368 home runs and 1,117 RBIs. He was runner-up for the NL MVP award in 2005, when he had 51 homers and 128 RBIs. The following season he hit 41 home runs with a career-high 129 RBIs. He made $13.5 million this year, the final season of a five-year contract. The Braves made no effort to re-sign him. Jones' $18.1 million average salary trails only those of the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez ($27.5 million), Boston's Manny Ramirez ($20 million), the Yankees' Derek Jeter ($18.9 million), and the Cubs' Carlos Zambrano ($18.3 million). Adding Jones was the first major move for Los Angeles since Torre replaced Grady Little as manager on Nov. 1. Jones will get a chance to work with Don Mattingly, who followed Torre to the Dodgers and became hitting coach. Light-hitting Juan Pierre, who had been in center field, could switch to left -- potentially reducing playing time for Matt Kemp or Andre Ethier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thai Jet Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 Let's see if I have this right. Jones got $13.5 mil this year, hits .222 and gets a raise to $18.1 avg. for the next 2 years which includes a $12.2 mil signing bonus from the Dodgers? Oh and yeah his current team (Braves) made NO effort to resign him. Riiiiiight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharrow Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 Lol, I hate the dodgers, yet they provide me with so much humor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidhuman Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 And they say A-Rod is overpaid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mavrik Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 Dodgers paid WAY too much for a guy who's skills are clearly on the decline. It seems the Dodgers dole out stupid contract after stupid contract. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIGHT STALKER Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 Dodgers think by increasing their payroll that is the key to success with Torre as manager. Torre sucked as a manager before being hired by the Yanks with their open pockets to sign players. I even think Torre bought into his own success in NY. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbn007 Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 This deal surprises me on 2 fronts. Dodgers just gave Pierre a 5 year deal at 9 million per last year. Now they move on from there? And they have a few kids in line who need time. Guess Torre won't play the kids!! Boras. He takes a smallish contract, not a 4-5 year deal? He is the type who normally holds out with his client until he gets what he wants. I am surprised he wrapped this up so early in the process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 Have the worse season of your career and get a raise-I wish I had a job like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GimmeShelter Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 What is he 29 coming off of one bad year ? Prior to that he's a perennial big HR and RBI guy who is flawless on defense. Plenty of worse contracts out there for next year. Pudge-Igawa-Giambi just to name a few. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K2C Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 Bye Andruw...you will be missed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mavrik Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 This deal surprises me on 2 fronts. Dodgers just gave Pierre a 5 year deal at 9 million per last year. Now they move on from there? And they have a few kids in line who need time. Guess Torre won't play the kids!! Boras. He takes a smallish contract, not a 4-5 year deal? He is the type who normally holds out with his client until he gets what he wants. I am surprised he wrapped this up so early in the process. I think given the fact that his biggest client circumvented him to get a contract done and the fact that he was also fired by Kenny Rogers, it seems maybe Boras is less inclined to play games with people and get a contract done as quickly as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbn007 Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 I think given the fact that his biggest client circumvented him to get a contract done and the fact that he was also fired by Kenny Rogers, it seems maybe Boras is less inclined to play games with people and get a contract done as quickly as possible. Oh, I understand that. But it would seem to me that the best way to "rebuild" his reputation back up is to get a high-profile client a mega deal, for mega dollars and mega years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GimmeShelter Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 Oh, I understand that. But it would seem to me that the best way to "rebuild" his reputation back up is to get a high-profile client a mega deal, for mega dollars and mega years. True but Jones needs a small contract in terms of years to rebuild his rep as a star and than he will look for one more mega deal at age 32. Smart move as you take out last year and he would have received many big time offers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackout Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 overpaid, wow. LA are idiots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Troll Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 It's only a two year deal, it's not like it cripples them for the next ten years. I like the move. It's a lot of money, but the deal is so short that there is little long term risk. 2 years and $36 for Andruw Jones is a better deal than 4 years and $36 for David Eckstein. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackout Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 It's only a two year deal, it's not like it cripples them for the next ten years. I like the move. It's a lot of money, but the deal is so short that there is little long term risk. 2 years and $36 for Andruw Jones is a better deal than 4 years and $36 for David Eckstein. when your biggest pickups are a freakin manager and an overpaid aging centerfielder you're team sucks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Bit Special Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 boras wanted a longer deal but nobody would come up with 3 or 4 years. I am shocked at how much he's getting, even if he does have a good year I dont know if that justifies his contract. but if he does turn it around he will be in for a really huge payday in 2 years. I wonder who else to slated to be a FA in 2 years??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thai Jet Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 boras wanted a longer deal but nobody would come up with 3 or 4 years. I am shocked at how much he's getting, even if he does have a good year I dont know if that justifies his contract. but if he does turn it around he will be in for a really huge payday in 2 years. I wonder who else to slated to be a FA in 2 years??? IMO IF he were capable of having a good year I would think he would have done it LAST year as he was entering free agency. The Dodgers are fools especially considering no one else was bidding for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugg Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 "Light-hitting Juan Pierre, who had been in center field, could switch to left -- potentially reducing playing time for Matt Kemp or Andre Ethier." Beane and thr A's will take Either, Kemp and a young arm off their hands so Torre can mismanage Joe Blanton. Jones, coming off a .222 average and with declining defense, being the 5th highest paid player in MLB reeks of stupidity. Clueless Joe rides again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GimmeShelter Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 "Light-hitting Juan Pierre, who had been in center field, could switch to left -- potentially reducing playing time for Matt Kemp or Andre Ethier." Beane and thr A's will take Either, Kemp and a young arm off their hands so Torre can mismanage Joe Blanton. Jones, coming off a .222 average and with declining defense, being the 5th highest paid player in MLB reeks of stupidity. Clueless Joe rides again. Torre isn't the GM. You guys give up on Jones way too soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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