Jan 16 2009
Andruw says no minor-league deal; Braves should say good luck
By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com
ATLANTA — Especially in these times, when bad economic news seems to lurk at every turn, labeling a multi-million dollar athlete a beggar seems foolish.
But if your name is Andruw Jones, and your first season in Los Angeles was so bad the Dodgers decided to spread out the $21 million they owe you across the next six years, the shoe fits.
In terms of employment as a major-league baseball player, Andruw indeed is a beggar, unemployed after the Dodgers released the longtime Atlanta Braves’ star on Thursday. In one wretched, forgettable, putrid (or whatever other negative adjective you’d like to use) season in Hollywood, Jones was a mammoth bust. He hit just .158 with three home runs in 75 games, landing on the disabled list three times, watching as an outsider as the Dodgers chased down Arizona to win the NL West title.
The man who just three seasons prior led the majors with 51 home runs, reduced to a fringe player who didn’t even make it onto L.A.’s postseason roster.
And now Andruw is looking for work. He did a little self-campaigning Wednesday night, wearing a Braves hat to the nationally televised Georgia Tech-Duke basketball game at Alexander Memorial Coliseum. But in a curious twist, he told an Atlanta radio station Thursday morning he would not accept a minor-league contract from the Braves should the franchise offer the outfielder such a deal.
Huh?
Privately, the Braves are at least considering inviting Jones to spring training. Were he to make the team, Atlanta would be on the hook for just $400,000, the major-league minimum salary. That he indeed would be on the 25-man roster when April 5 rolls around and the Braves open the season at Philadelphia is a reach in and of itself, as I wrote the other day.
But to come out and say he’s not taking a minor-league deal strikes me as a touch of arrogance coming from a guy who has spent the past two and a half years plunging from the stratosphere of baseball stardom to the basement.
If Andruw indeed is interested in trying to revive his career with the franchise for which he played from 1996-2007, it’s sure as heck not going to be on a major-league deal. The Braves would have to bump somebody off the 40-man roster to make that happen, and they’re not going to do that.
Why would they? Andruw doesn’t exactly have a lot of leverage working for him right now. Yes, he may be in good shape and he may be working out, but he struggled mightily in winter ball, striking out seven times in 13 at-bats against right-handers. Unless he suddenly discovers how to hit the breaking ball on the outer half of the plate, Jones isn’t going to be in the majors next season no matter what type of deal he gets in the coming weeks.
Andruw Jones helping this team in 2009 is a pipe dream, one that moved even further from reality with his comments Thursday. He may change his mind and end up taking a minor-league deal were it offered. After hearing what he said, I don’t even know if the Braves should bother.
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I can’t see Jones being any help to the Braves this season and I hope the Braves front office agrees.
I really hope he isn’t with the braves next year. I booed him all year in 2007 and i would do it again hit 2009.
I don’t want any part of Andruw Jones. Braves are moving in the right direction. Bring Andruw back would be a move in the wrong the direction. The next step in moving in the right direction is for this to be Bobby’s last year.