OMEN
12-06-2007, 10:37 AM
http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2007/baseball/mlb/12/06/dodgers.andruw/p1.andruw.jones.si.jpg
Andruw Jones is coming off a disappointing season offensively in which he batted .222.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- All-Star center fielder Andruw Jones and the Los Angeles Dodgers reached a preliminary agreement Wednesday night on a two-year, $36.2 million contract, SI.com has confirmed.
Jones, the former Atlanta star who has won 10 straight Gold Gloves, must pass a physical for the agreement to be completed, a person familiar with the negotiations said, speaking on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made.
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.
Jones' average annual salary of $18.1 million is fifth-highest in major league history. Only Roger Clemens ($28 million average), Alex Rodriguez ($25.2 million), Manny Ramirez ($20 million) and Derek Jeter ($18.9 million) have been paid more per season.
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.
The Dodgers are expected to move Juan Pierre to left field, leaving Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier for right. The surplus of outfielders could make either Kemp or Ethier expendable.
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.
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."
Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti did not immediately return an e-mail seeking comment.
Associated Press
Andruw Jones is coming off a disappointing season offensively in which he batted .222.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- All-Star center fielder Andruw Jones and the Los Angeles Dodgers reached a preliminary agreement Wednesday night on a two-year, $36.2 million contract, SI.com has confirmed.
Jones, the former Atlanta star who has won 10 straight Gold Gloves, must pass a physical for the agreement to be completed, a person familiar with the negotiations said, speaking on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made.
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.
Jones' average annual salary of $18.1 million is fifth-highest in major league history. Only Roger Clemens ($28 million average), Alex Rodriguez ($25.2 million), Manny Ramirez ($20 million) and Derek Jeter ($18.9 million) have been paid more per season.
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.
The Dodgers are expected to move Juan Pierre to left field, leaving Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier for right. The surplus of outfielders could make either Kemp or Ethier expendable.
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.
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."
Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti did not immediately return an e-mail seeking comment.
Associated Press