Andruw Jones to Dodgers

[numb_kisses]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Dodgers landed the bat they've been seeking, reaching agreement on Wednesday night with free-agent outfielder Andruw Jones on a two-year, $36 million contract, according to a baseball official. The deal is contingent on Jones passing a physical exam.
Jones, a 10-time Gold Glove winner and five-time All Star, will take over

Comments

[imburningstariv]

I'm liking it. It's a very smart signing - the only direction Andruw can go is up. Take into account that he put up better power numbers than any of the rest of our guys while injured... hell, I'm quite excited.

Ethier in Left, Jones in Center, Kemp in Right - that'd be a fantastic outfield.

Does anyone want to take Juan Pierre off our hands?

[numb_kisses]

Yeah, I thought it was a pretty nifty move for the Dodgers. I was never a Braves fan, but I always liked Andruw.

Oh yeah, and Coheed and Cambria = one of my favorite bands. I saw them in concert a few years ago, it was amazing.

[whatwouldevando]

Considering the awful 2007 Jones had, the Dodgers overpaid a bit, but it'll be worth it if Jones can bounce back.

Here's hoping he breaks both legs.

[smartyr]

That's a lot in AAV, but it's of a short enough term that it isn't too big of a risk. Given that they're not in the luxury tax range, that kind of cash won't hurt over a couple of years. I wonder if Jones wanted it that short of a deal so that he can give another shot a massive contract, or if the Dodgers did not want to put that much money on the line. The article didn't make it sound mutual, but didn't say which side wanted the brevity.

[thinkbluegreen]

I just responded to a post in the Dodger community with my thoughts on it, so this is a bit lengthy, but if anyone wants to read it, they can, it's obviously Dodger-heavy so just skip it if you don't care

[whatwouldevando]

"I think this was a way better move than trading 4 starters or whatever for Miguel Cabera. That's just nuts."

None of them were starters. Simply prospects. 6 in total.

The Dodgers just gambled $36 million on an outfielder who may have begun a huge downturn in his career, or merely had one bad year. It makes me wonder what kind of money Jones would've commanded had his 2007 numbers not been so off.

The Tigers moved 6 unproven prospects to Florida to gain two perennial all-star franchise players (assuming one of them doesn't eat himself into oblivion), who are both under 26, and made themselves the team to beat in the AL Central.

[shoesize11]

Why is Andruw Jones potentially on a 'huge downturn in his career' but Dontrelle Willis still an 'all-star franchise player'?

[whatwouldevando]

Dontrelle didn't have a good 2007 either, but he's 6 years younger than Jones, and pitchers are more prone to "off years" on the whole.

Andruw Jones might very well rebound, but considering the precipitous dive his BA took in 2007, it makes one wonder.

[thanks4thefish]

I think it's hilarious that so many people are focusing on the money.

Its. The. Dodgers. They are not cash-strapped.

If they had a payroll of $50, even $80 million, then that might be a valid argument, but they have the ability to absorb that kind of money for one position, so why is everyone fussing? That is the price for elite center fielders these days. and he absolutely is an elite center fielder.

[0bsessions]

The fact he's coming off a year where he was far from an elite center fielder. Most big players turn it up for a contract year, Jones looked like absolute shit at the plate. $18 million a season puts him in the upper echelons of MLB salaries. If guys who're coming off of .222 seasons are getting $18 million contracts, this is a bad sign.

[thanks4thefish]

A bad sign of what? Everyone has acknowledged he was injured, but played through it exactly because it was a contract year. His performance over several years safely establishes that it was an aberration.

And I say again, who gives a crap about what the Dodgers do with their payroll?

[0bsessions]

The fact he managed to still play the field and hit home runs makes the idea that it was a one time thing seem sketchy. Generally, if you're injured, you suffer in multiple areas, not just being able to make contact with the ball.

As far as who cares what the Dodgers do? Well, I'd assume Dodgers fans, but beyond them? Salaries are already ridiculous and Zito's contract last season made things jump even worse. Giving a guy coming off a .222 season $18 million, when no one else seemed even close to offering him that, is only going to make things worse for the rest of the league. I may be a fan of a large market team who can afford high salaries, but I definitely don't want to see it get worse. I'd rather not see an average of 25 MLB teams at any given time stuck with the Marlins' business model for building a team.