Dodgers Sign Andruw Jones
December 6, 2007 by Geoff Young
Filed under Hot Stove, Transactions
The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed center fielder Andruw Jones to a 2-year deal worth a reported $36 million. That’s a little pricey for my taste, but not outrageous, and it’s only two years. The problem is, this signing leaves me with more questions than answers:
- What happens to Juan Pierre? If he slides over to left, as some have speculated, he becomes even more worthless than he already is. Don’t get me wrong, as a Padres fan, I’d love nothing more than to see the Dodgers run Pierre out to a corner spot every day, but I can’t bring myself to believe that anyone would really do that. Then again, someone signed him to a 5-year deal in the first place, so what do I know.
- What happens to Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp? If Pierre stays, then one of these guys has to go — or so it would seem. What will either of them fetch in trade? I’ve heard rumblings about an Erik Bedard deal, but right now the signal-to-noise ratio is very low in terms of rumors vs facts.
Jones certainly represents an upgrade over Pierre in center, but the Dodgers still have to deal with the latter’s contract in some way. Even still, assuming Jones rebounds from a poor ‘06 season, he’s a .260/.340/.500 hitter or so. That’s solid, but is it enough to “put them over the top”?
From a value standpoint, I can live with this contract. From a “what are the Dodgers trying to accomplish” standpoint, I’m left scratching my head.
Other Voices
Why do you think Andruw didn’t get a longer-term deal?
Geoff, we need a haiku for this deal.
David: Andruw is coming off a career-worst season, in which he was a below-average offensive performer. Given that he’s now on the wrong side of 30, teams may have been concerned that last year’s performance represented the beginning of a slide rather than a blip on the radar. There was talk that he might settle for a 1-year deal to try and re-establish his value with a strong showing in 2008.
Didi: Hmmm, lemme see what I can do.