Towards the end of the week, the Dodgers announced that they'd be restructuring Andruw Jones' contract. The goal is to find a trade partner and since teams are already worried about his expanded waistline and his declining skills (in 2008 he had one of the worst offensive seasons by a non-pitcher that I can ever remember), the Dodgers wanted to try and relieve some of his huge contract and hope someone would take a risk on him.
At this point, even that's not looking good. There was some thought that the Reds, who are still talking to Jerry Hairston Jr. and Rocco Baldelli in an attempt to find a right-handed outfield bat, would be a good fit, but John Fay at the Cincinnati Enquirer doesn't think the Reds would want him, even if he were a free agent willing to play for the league minimum.
So is Buster Olney right? Is Jones' career over? I was going to argue that Olney's jumping the gun a bit, but after thinking about it some I'm not so sure he is. Remember, Jones was one of the last of the marquee free agents to sign last year after his terrible contract year in 2007 and there were some whispers he was fading fast even then. He responded by putting on a ton of weight and putting up a ridiculously bad OPS+ of 34. He's too out of shape to play center like he used to and he can't hit at all. Who's going to possibly want this guy?
Olney link via MLB Trade Rumors
Andruw Jones Is Still Unwanted originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sun, 04 Jan 2009 14:27:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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