DODGERS: Now the Los Angeles Dodgers have a star center fielder to go with their popular new manager.
While most teams accomplished little during the winter meetings, the Dodgers landed one of the few prime free agents in this year’s market, reaching a preliminary agreement with Gold Glover Andruw Jones on a $36.2 million, two-year contract.
A five-time All-Star, Jones hit .222 for Atlanta this year, his lowest average since he batted .217 in 106 at-bats as a rookie in 1996. His 26 homers were his fewest since 1997, and many wondered whether the 30-year-old’s skills are diminishing.
Jones must pass a physical for the agreement to be completed, and likely will take the medical exam Tuesday. His $18.1 million average salary trails only those of the Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez ($27.5 million), Boston’s Manny Ramirez ($20 million), the Yankees’ Derek Jeter ($18.9 million), and the Cubs’ Carlos Zambrano ($18.3 million).
MLB: Jose Guillen and Jay Gibbons were suspended Thursday for the first 15 days of next season for violating baseball’s drug policy. The penalties are an indication how the sport might treat players named in the Mitchell report, which could be released next week.
Guillen and Gibbons were accused in media reports of receiving human growth hormone after January 2005, when it was banned by baseball.
Gary Matthews Jr., Rick Ankiel, Troy Glaus and Scott Schoeneweis also were linked to performance-enhancing drugs, but baseball decided there was “insufficient evidence” to determine they committed a doping violation. They were accused of receiving the substances before 2005.
Guillen instructed the players’ association to file a grievance over his suspension, which would be decided by an arbitrator. Gibbons will not challenge his penalty.
Earlier in the day, Guillen and Kansas City finalized their $36 million, three-year contract.
DIAMONDBACKS: The Arizona Diamondbacks and infielder Augie Ojeda avoided salary arbitration, agreeing Thursday to a one-year contract worth $550,000. The 32-year-old Ojeda is a .219 career hitter with six homers and 43 RBIs in 235 major league games.
NATIONALS: Backup infielder Aaron Boone agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract Thursday with the Washington Nationals, who also avoided arbitration with outfielders Wily Mo Pena and Ryan Langerhans. Pena agreed to a deal that would pay him $4 million over two years if he picks up a mutual option for 2009, or $7 million if the team exercises its option. Langerhans would earn $500,000 if he’s in the majors next season and $300,000 in the minors.
PADRES: San Diego offered a one-year contract to left fielder Milton Bradley, who tore up his right knee late in the season when his manager spun him to the ground while trying to keep him from going after an umpire. Sam Levinson, one of Bradley’s agents, confirmed that the sides are talking.
Associated Press
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