MLB Fastball 10.05.07: Jones and Braves Cut Ties
Posted by Neil Borenstein on 10.05.2007
It’s the end of an era in Atlanta. Andruw Jones will no longer be wearing a Braves uniform, as management in Atlanta decided the price was too steep to bring him back. In this week’s edition of MLB Fastball, Neil Borenstein examines the situation and ponders what teams might be in the running this Hot Stove season for Jones’ services.
Two days in and here's what the Major League Baseball playoffs look like:
Colorado Rockies lead series over Philadelphia Phillies, 2-0
Arizona Diamondbacks lead series over Chicago Cubs, 1-0 (with Game Two in progress as of this writing)
Boston Red Sox lead series over Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 1-0
Cleveland Indians lead series over New York Yankees, 1-0
I'm not even remotely surprised about the Rockies leading this series over the Phillies. For all of the glory and drama that Philadelphia went through over just making the playoffs, they failed to realize that they actually needed to show up for the playoffs. And I think the Phillies making the playoffs had more to do with the New York Mets collapsing than the Phillies actually winning the division. The Rockies were on a roll toward the end of the season – winning 14 of their last 15 and having a franchise-record 11-game winning streak. And I think the Rockies have a stronger offense than the Phillies, which is big in a series that from the get-go was setup to be a batting brawl more than a pitching duel. I think the Rockies are going to sweep this thing back in Colorado and make the Phillies' "miracle" run nothing more than a first round embarrassment.
I can't really pass judgment yet on the Diamondbacks-Cubs series, since Game Two is still in progress as of this writing and the Cubs really lost Game One because of a managerial mishap by Lou Pinella. I think this is a pretty even series, so I really wouldn't be surprised either way. I'm sure we'll get at least four games between Arizona and Chicago.
The Red Sox shutting out the Angels was very surprising to me. Josh Beckett has to be the leading candidate for the AL Cy Young, and his performance in Game One just solidifies the kind of season he's been having. He pitched all nine innings and struck out eight while allowing only four hits in the Red Sox' 4-0 victory. He really set the tone incredibly well for Boston, and now it's all in Daisuke Matsuzaka's hands to continue that in Game Two tonight.
And the Yankees, well, that just wasn't any fun for them. A 12-3 loss to C.C. Sabathia and the Indians was just not the way the Bronx Bombers envisioned starting off the playoffs. Poor batting and a pitching staff that gave up four home runs did the Yankees in for Game One. Game Two later today will see Andy Pettitte vs. Fausto Carmona, which will be another interesting matchup. I think New York can pull out a victory tonight, but they're really going to have to work for it. Another loss to Cleveland could do the Yankees in for the series.
Atlanta Cutting Ties With Center Fielder
Andruw Jones Done With Braves
Photo Credit: Yahoo! Sports
Andruw Jones will bring his big bat and defense to the open market following the World Series.
After spending his entire 12-year career with the Atlanta Braves, Andruw Jones will need to find a new place to call home in Major League Baseball during the Hot Stove season. Atlanta management has decided to cut ties with the perennial Gold Glove center fielder, citing financial concerns as the reason the Braves cannot bring him back. What are those financial concerns? Jones is simply worth too much money.
Scott Boras is Jones' agent, and he had put a number on the table to Atlanta, which general manager John Schuerholz considers to be way too high. It's believed the number was at least $20 million a season – which is hardly a surprise in this inflated era of MLB contracts.
The split between the two parties was amicable. Schuerholz never made any cracks about Jones. He has given him his full due as an integral part of the Braves' organization for the past decade. And he let Jones know he would not be returning to Atlanta in a face-to-face meeting, a show of respect to the team's former cornerstone star. Jones hasn't taken the move to heart. He understands it's a business. But it's also the end of an era in Atlanta.
Jones' career with the Braves ends after accumulating 368 home runs; 1,117 RBIs; 1,045 runs; 138 stolen bases and a .263 career batting average in 1,761 games. Jones had a career-high 51 home runs in 2005, which led the league.
He also grew into one of the best defensive players an outfield could ever hope for. Jones is the recipient of nine straight Gold Gloves, thanks in large part to the many diving catches he's made in center field throughout his career.
The 30-year old doesn't leave Atlanta on the brightest of notes, however. Last season was his worst since entering the Majors in 1996 – his rookie season that happened to include two home runs at Yankee Stadium in the first World Series game of his then-extremely young career. In 2007, Jones only managed to bat .222 at the plate. He also only had 26 home runs and 94 RBIs. That's hardly worth the $13.5 million he made last season, let alone the almost $20 million per season he was likely asking for in a raise.
So now, Jones is at liberty to explore the free agent market. And lord knows with Boras on his side, even one bad season will not prevent him from cashing in on everything else he's done in the league since entering it as a 19-year old non-draftee from Curacao.
The rumor mill has already started, and the Baltimore Orioles are having discussions about bringing Jones in, according to the Baltimore Sun. But the Orioles have far greater worries than bringing in a center fielder, of which they already have Corey Patterson. Sure, Patterson is not amazing – but he's good enough for the team to invest its money more wisely in an area of great need, pitching.
I think the most logical location for Jones is Boston. The Red Sox were actually close to landing Jones on trade deadline day 2006. But Jon Lester proved to be too much to give up in the return, and thus the deal never came to fruition. But without having to give any players in return, Jones could become a hot commodity for the Red Sox. And I highly doubt anybody in Boston would get too upset if they woke up one morning and read in the newspaper that Coco Crisp was being replaced in the outfield by Jones.
The Red Sox do have money considerations to worry about, however. I mean, this is an offseason where they could literally become the team with the highest payroll in sports – and then the hypocrisy of Boston bandwagon fans would just be too obvious. Curt Schilling needs a new contract. The team needs to make a decision on Mike Lowell, or better yet, Álex Rodríguez if he decides to opt out of his contract with the Yankees. And the normal saga that is Manny being Manny will probably play out during the offseason and it's possible his name will find the trading block soon after the Red Sox' postseason comes to a close.
There's a lot for Boston to consider this offseason and I'm not sure adding more fuel to the fire is a smart decision.
I could also see the San Francisco Giants, who recently cut ties with Barry Bonds in favor of a youth movement, going after Jones. The Giants' center field spot is hardly solidified with the likes of Dave Roberts and 27-year old Rajai Davis occupying the position in 2007. The Giants will have to strongly consider just how much of a payroll they want because they did just signed Barry Zito last year for a whopping $18 million per season over seven. But I think adding $4 million onto the money they are saving from re-signing Bonds is very reasonable, at least in the short-term, for San Francisco.
As far as he Braves are concerned, they intend on using the money they are saving from not re-signing Jones elsewhere. They will look to add some depth in their starting rotation behind John Smoltz and Tim Hudson. And they also need to sign Mark Teixeira, who is eligible for salary arbitration, to a long-term deal.
Plus, they now need a new center fielder – one that can never replace what Jones gave to Atlanta for the last 12 years, but one that will cost a lot less.
Okay, I know I still haven't responded to the feedback I received last week (and for those wondering, it is a return from "The Outcast Legend".) Now, I'm not ducking it, but my time is becoming increasingly limited. So, I promise, I'll get to it, eventually. And when I do, you can check it out on my blog, which can be found here. I just need a bit of patience.
Otherwise …
Send all comments, questions, and suggestions to br7qbsteelers@yahoo.com.
