Kuzul

The New York Yankees agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal with Andruw Jones on Thursday to replace Marcus Thames as a right-handed-hitting fourth outfielder.

While Jones, a 10-time Gold Glove winner, is not the same outfielder he was 13 years ago when he was still breaking into the Majors, he’s still a far better defensive option than Thames.

But at what cost?

Jones hit just .230 last year with the Chicago White Sox, and what’s scarier is that was his highest average since 2006.

Thames, who put up a .288/.350/.491 line last season, was better in all three categories, and he hit .300 against lefties, while Jones hit just .256.

In fact, over the past four years, Thames has a higher overall batting average (.253 vs. .212) and slugging percentage (.491 vs. .412) than Jones.

Starters Brett Gardner and Curtis Granderson are both fine defensive outfielders, so shouldn’t the main purpose of a backup be to pinch-hit for guys who both struggle against southpaws? (Gardner hit .252 and Granderson hit .234 off them last year.)

Follow me on Twitter at @  JordanHarrison.

Jordan Schwartz is one of Bleacher Report’s New York Yankees and College Basketball Featured Columnists. His book Memoirs of the Unaccomplished Man is available at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and authorhouse.com.

Jordan can be reached at jordanschwartz2003@yahoo.com

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OK, stop me if you’ve heard this one…

“So the Yankees signed Mark Prior and Andruw Jones? That would be amazing…if it was 2004!”

Ugh. If I had a dollar for every time I saw a variation of that joke posted on Twitter this week, I would probably have, easily, $24.

I mean, I get it. The fact that the Yankees signed both men during this offseason left the door wide open for this sort of commentary, but come on, people. With the AFC title game coming up, can’t we cook up some good Ben Roethlisberger-is-a-female-terrorist jokes instead?

I’m not against bad jokes. I love bad jokes. This blog may best be explained as one bad joke. But it’s the repetition of this particular bad joke that has me close to a Randy Quaid-level public meltdown.

Prior, of course, was signed back in December to a minor league contract. The Yankees aren’t exactly out on a limb here. It’s unlikely the right-hander will ever regain the electric stuff that made him a sensation at Wrigley Field, but at just 30, he’s young enough where you can justify giving him a shot to resurrect his career.

God knows the Yankees need all the options they can get, the way the bottom of their rotation is shaping up. Did you know they have a dude named Sergio in line for 32 starts? It’s a known fact that dudes named Sergio are good at only two things: 1) Chasing down tail and 2) Playing extended saxophone solos. Notice quality starts weren’t included there.

Jones, meanwhile, is another low-risk/decent-reward acquisition. What needs to be understood here is that Brian Cashman—I assume Cashman made this move, but who knows at this point—doesn’t expect Jones to hit 51 homers and play Gold Glove center field in the Bronx. Andruw Jones doesn’t have to be Andruw Jones anymore—he just needs to be a defensively superior version of Marcus Thames.

After you recalibrate the expectations, the move makes a lot more sense.

Now, it’s entirely possible Jones shows up in Tampa with the build of Rex Ryan. You cannot discount Andruw Jones’ hunger for life, and when I say “hunger for life,” I really just mean hunger. Dodgers fans can attest to this…the man had to be airlifted out of Joe Torre’s clubhouse three years ago.

But if Jones decides to show discipline and do the twilight of his career right, he can serve an important role in New York while also giving himself a shot to get back on the Hall of Fame radar.

It’s easy to forget now, but Jones was a historically good player before the bottom mysteriously dropped out in 2008. As Jon Heyman pointed out on Twitter, Jones is one of only four players to win 10 Gold Gloves and hit 400 homers, joining Ken Griffey Jr., Willie Mays and Mike Schmidt. That’s a fraternity of two jerks and a guy who bawled like a little girl during his retirement press conference, but it’s an impressive fraternity nonetheless.

At-bats may seem hard to come by for Jones now, but a fourth outfielder always ends up getting his fair share of PT. Look at Thames, a roster afterthought last spring who ended up appearing in 82 games for the Yankees in 2010.

In closing, Prior and Jones won’t decide the Yankees’ fate the way a Derek Jeter, CC Sabathia or A.J. Burnett probably will. But they’re veterans with a track record. If they can stay upright—for Prior that means out of the trainer’s room and for Jones out of the fridge—they can be key contributors at a low cost.

And that’s why Brian Cashman made these moves. Assuming, of course, Mr. Cashman is still on the grid. Blink twice if you’re in danger, Brian.

Dan Hanzus writes three columns a week on his New York Yankees site, River & Sunset. He can be reached at dhanzus@gmail.com. Follow Dan on Twitter @danhanzus.

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It is official: Ex-Atlanta Braves superstar Andruw Jones has officially signed with the New York Yankees. 

MLB Trade Rumors is reporting a one-year deal at $2MM bucks with performance incentives worth another $1.2MM for 2011.

Jones has a career batting average of .256 with 407 home-runs and 1,222 RBIs.

This is agent Scott Boras’ second signing in the Bronx this week, as closer Rafael Soriano signed for three years worth $35MM, but he can opt out of the contract at the end of 2011 or 2012 and it doesn’t include a no trade clause.

Soriano was the best closer in the American League last season posting a 1.73 ERA and had 45 saves in 2010.

Soriano will set-up for Mariano Rivera, a job he feels is an absolute privilege.

This was a solid pick-up by Hal Steinbrenner and President Randy Levine, who took the reigns from GM Brian Cashman to get the deal done.

Getting back to Jones, who indisputably was one of the best players in baseball for almost a decade.

Just to get some perspective on how good, in 2005 Jones hit 51 home-runs and 128 RBIs. In the following season Jones’ bat posted 41 bombs and 129 RBIs. Jones also earned a Silver Slugger and Hank Aaron Award in 2005 and two of his 10 Gold Gloves for prevailing defense as an outfielder.

Jones was an absolute monster, as those numbers are so nasty it is to the point of almost unbelievable. 

Please realize that this is not the Jones the Yankees just signed. Super Agent Boras had to do cartwheels to get over $2MM and possibly more, for a player who has fallen like Jones.

Just looking at his seasonal stats, it is easy to see that when the Braves ousted Jones is when his real struggles began.

Here is a little history on Mr. Jones:

Jones signed with the Atlanta Braves when he was just 16. He spent his first 12-seasons in Atlanta. In 2007, the Braves did not renew Jones’ contract. 

Jones had no home pre-2008 season, until signing a two-year, $34MM contract to go play for the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

That love affair ended after one season, as Jones showed up overweight, out-of-shape and posted a .158 batting average. Clearly, Jones was not interested in being a Dodger and the feeling was mutual. 

This left Jones homeless once again. His best offer was a minor league deal to play for the Texas Rangers in 2009. Jones had no other options, but after showing up fat and not fit, Texas decided not to keep him either.

As a Ranger, Jones played in 82 games, posting a batting average of .222 and slamming 17 home-runs. 

Still, this was a 10-time gold glove winner, who was still productive as recently as two years prior making teams wonder what was going on, because Jones was just 31 years old.

Next up was the Chicago White Sox, who felt that $500,000 was little to lose if they could get Jones close to his old self. Jones signed another one-year deal in 2010, making Chicago his third home in three seasons.

Jones came to White Sox spring training 30 pounds lighter and in shape, which is a positive change. Under the leadership of skipper Ozzie Guillen, Jones hit 19 home runs, 48 RBIs, in 278 at bats and played in 107 games, the most games Jones had played in since 2007.

Jones also had career milestone while in Chicago, hitting home-run #400 on July 11th. 

The White Sox did not resign Jones, as the free agent has now found a new home in the Bronx for at least another season. 

So, what happened to Andruw Jones and why is it still a mystery? 

There has been much speculation, such as: 

• Depression hit after the Braves let him go, as it was Jones’ home since age 16.
• Steroids have been blamed due to Jones’ massive numbers in 2005 and 2006 dropped so sharply at the age of 29. Nothing has been proved implicating this happened.
• Is Jones’ actual age, his real age? Age has been questioned with Jones, mainly due to Miguel Tejada’s admitting to pretending to be two years older, so he would be eligible to play and for a signing bonus. Both are from Curacao in the Caribbean, but Jones did not do this either.

No one knows for sure, but it seems that Jones thought Atlanta was home because he knew nothing else.

My guess is he got depressed and uninspired, feeling kicked out and betrayed by the Braves. That is what makes the most sense, as the behavior is warranted and not uncommon.

My Outlook On Jones In Pinstripes:

As much as I was against this signing, $2MM is pocket change for the Yankees considering the possibilities. It is not my choice to root for the player, but it is for the team so try and see the positives.

It is not secret that Jones wants to make a comeback; he is in playing shape and was once considered a defensive specialist in the outfield. Jones can play all three positions in the outfield and still pretty well from what I have heard.

The five-time All Star is now 33 years old and might never be what he once was, but that is not expected.

If Jones can be three-quarters of that player again this deal could be on the GM Brian Cashman’s Top 10 List of greatest signings.

After last season’s busts like Nick Johnson and Randy Winn, Cashman could use a boost.

I think Yankee fans should be more optimistic about Jones, as he is supposedly great in the clubhouse and he already is friendly with most of his new teammates.

Why this might work is because nothing motivates a player to thrive like New York City, and add that to wearing the Yankee pinstripes and anything is possible.

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Before we get to the New York Yankees and Andruw Jones, can we first talk about the press conference they held yesterday to announce the Rafael Soriano signing? Was that not the most awkward press conference to introduce a new player ever?

I have never seen a press conference where the GM of all people says he had no interest in signing the player. When Brian Cashman was holding up Soriano’s jersey, it looked like someone just told him Alex Rodriguez slept with his wife. It was really awkward.

And what added more awkwardness to the situation was how smug Randy Levine was throughout the whole process. His facial reactions were the polar opposite of those by Cashman.

Levine is becoming the poster child of why people hate the Yankees. He is like that kid in high school that knows nothing about baseball, but follows the Yankees because it’s the cool thing to do, and when the Yankees win he brags and gloats about it to the point where it becomes obnoxious and then you just want to punch him in the face.

That’s Levine and about 80 percent of the kids in high school in the New York area in a nutshell.

Now on the Jones signing.

The Yankees signed Jones to a one-year, $2 million contract. Jones can earn another $1.2 million in performance incentives.

If this signing occurred 10 years ago:

A. Jones wouldn’t be making just $2 million in base salary, and

B. This would be a “holy shnikies” signing.

The reality is, Andruw Jones, well, isn’t Andruw Jones anymore. He is a fourth outfielder at best, and that is the role he will serve with the Yankees.

Jones will be the 2011 version of the 2010 Marcus Thames for the Yankees. Like Thames, Jones will fill in for Brett Gardner or Curtis Granderson against tough left-handed pitchers.

Despite having a .724 OPS over the past three seasons, Jones can still hit left-handed pitching. The soon-to-be 34-year-old had a .931 OPS against left-handed pitching last season. He also had an impressive eight HRs in just 102 plate appearances against lefties in 2010.

Defensively, Jones is a shell of his former self. During his prime in center, Jones averaged around a 22.0 UZR. Now, he is posting a -1.7 UZR, like he did last season with the Chicago White Sox.

Watching Jones in center is like watching Ric Flair in TNA these days. It’s hard to watch because you remember what it used to be.

Despite that, I still expect Jones to fill in more often for Granderson than Gardner. Gardner is too good defensively to replace with the mediocre Jones.

In the role Jones will serve with the Yankees in 2011, he should do just fine.

You can follow The Ghost of Moonlight Graham on Twitter @ theghostofmlg

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Late Thursday afternoon, after nearly an entire offseason of position-player inactivity, Yankee GM Brian Cashman inked the former Braves superstar to a one-year, $2 million contract, with another $1.2 million in additional performance-based incentives. After bolstering their bullpen with top-shelf relief arms, the Yankees’ acquisition of Andruw Jones fills the hole left by the late (not so) great Marcus Thames.

Jones, who turns 34 in April, is coming off a strong campaign in 2010 in which he hit .230/.341/.486 with 19 home runs in limited duty for the Chicago White Sox. A longtime fan favorite in Atlanta, Jones combined both power and speed to create one of the most dynamic players baseball had ever seen. After a somewhat disappointing (to say the absolute least) 2008 where he hit .158/.256/.249 for the L.A. Dodgers, Jones has resurrected his career as a fourth outfielder and designated hitter. His most notable achievement, however, is primarily defensive in nature.

Looking at Andruw’s Baseball-Reference.com page, the more casual fan might notice 10 consecutive Gold Gloves and consider him a very good outfielder—but even that’s selling him short. According to the advanced statistic known as defensive wins above replacement (dWAR), Jones is quite literally the greatest defensive center fielder in baseball history.  

If you’re like the majority of baseball fans, dWAR might be a little foreign to you. The statistic is based upon something called TotalZone—which is derived from detailed accounts of each and every game played since 1953. Over Andruw’s career, he has been worth over 240 runs above the replacement-level center fielder—replacement-level meaning a normal AAA player, or bench option. Those 240 runs put Andruw ahead of some of the most legendary defenders of all time—people like Ozzie Smith, Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente. The only player who was worth more than the newest Yankee was former Baltimore Oriole Brooks Robinson, who is the consensus greatest third baseman ever.

The Yankees expect Jones to be their fourth outfielder, and the reserve designated hitter against left-handed pitching. 

Author’s Note: This was intended for my school newspaper—hence the rudimentary explanation of dWAR. 

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The New York Yankees are getting close to an agreement on a one-year contract with Andruw Jones, according to Tim Brown via Twitter.

After just a few days being told to sign Rafael Soriano to a three-year, $35 million deal by the owners, the Steinbrenners, general manager Brian Cashman has some good news after losing their first-round pick this upcoming draft. 

With Jones, they finally get a good fourth outfielder that can play all three outfield positions and give regular starters some rests. 

But even more importantly, they get a bat that can handle left-handed pitching.

Curtis Granderson still struggled this season against left-handers, even though there has been some (small) improvement after working with hitting coach Kevin Long.

Brett Gardner can still draw walks against southpaws, but Jones still seems to be the better option. 

Jones will turn 34 this upcoming April, but still has put up decent numbers. He hit .230 with 19 home runs in only 107 games.

He still has the power, and the hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium might contribute to the home run cause.

According to baseball insider Ken Rosenthal, the Yankees had a disagreement regarding money with the five-time Major League Baseball All-Star.

Well, now we know how the deal turned out, as New York is starting to sign some free agents.

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Via Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports:

“Y! source: Andruw Jones nearing a one-year deal with Yankees. Not done yet, however.”

The Yankees have been looking for a right-handed-hitting outfielder to complement the lefties, Curtis Granderson and Brett Gardner, in their lineup.

Jones fits that description well, and the Yankees have been having discussions with him for some time now.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported this morning that the two sides are still apart on money but notes that it shouldn’t be too difficult to come to a compromise. He does note that they are still interested in Johnny Damon as a backup if they can’t reach an agreement with Jones.

Jones has earned just $500,000 over the past two years, but after somewhat turning his career around, he’s most definitely looking for a pay raise.

Related Stories

• January 16, 2011 — Rumors: Yankees Step Up Pursuit of Andrew Jones
• January 3, 2011 — Heyman: Yankees Might Consider Andruw Jones or Johnny Damon
• January 10, 2011 — Rumors: Andruw Jones is Yankees Top Choice, 2 Sides Talking
• January 6, 2011 — Rumors: Johnny Damon Still Hoping to be a Yankee

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Via Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated:

“Yankees step up pursuit of Andruw Jones. Rays, several others in mix. [Johnny Damon] could be possibility or either team also.”

The Yankees seem to be okay standing pat with their current rotation, as they were never really in the mix for Jeff Francis, who recently signed with the Royals. So this move makes sense, as it is addressing their next biggest need.

Heyman tweeted earlier in the week that the Yankees and Jones were far apart on money, but hopefully they come together quickly here. Their need is for a right handed hitting outfielder to compliment Brett Gardner and Curtis Granderson.

Jones fits that description and Damon does not. Since they don’t seem interested in Scott Hairston, hopefully they will do what they have to to avoid adding the wrong piece.

Jones, still just 33, can play adequately at all three outfield positions. He also mashes lefties, putting up a .931 OPS against them in 86 at-bats last season. In contrast, Damon is 37, primarily a DH at this point in his career and had a .740 OPS against lefties in 2010. Even in 2009, his OPS against lefties was only .776.

Related Stories

• January 3, 2011 — Heyman: Yankees Might Consider Andruw Jones or Johnny Damon
• January 10, 2011 — Rumors: Andruw Jones is Yankees Top Choice, 2 Sides Talking
• January 6, 2011 — Rumors: Johnny Damon Still Hoping to be a Yankee
• January 5, 2011 — Rumors: Yankees Considering Andruw Jones

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If you asked me three years ago where Andruw Jones would be in 2011, I would rattle off a thousand different answers before settling on “A Major League baseball field.”

Literally, 1,000 different answers. Gas station attendant. Universal Studios tour guide. Dave & Buster’s skee ball maintenance man. Grifter. Anything but a big-league ballplayer.

It was three years ago that I last saw him play in person. I was at Dodger Stadium, sitting in the upper deck for an early May matchup between the Dodgers and Astros.

I lived through Carl Pavano. I survived Kenny Rogers. I battled through Danny Tartabull. And I can tell you, I’ve never seen a fanbase emit vitriol toward a home player that came close to the way Dodger fans went after Jones.

Maybe it was his close ties to the NL rival Braves. Maybe it was all those angry gangbangers in the Dodger Stadium crowd. Maybe it was his physical appearance (Jones was visibly overweight, sporting an XXXL-baggy uniform to hide a physique that had gone from John Basedow to Jonah Hill).

Ultimately, it was probably a combination of all those things…plus the collective realization their team had dropped $36 million on a flabby has-been who seemed intent on setting the record for most three-pitch strikeouts. It was that bad.

Jones lost his starting job shortly thereafter, in route to batting an almost unthinkable .158 for the season. Rather than own up to his failures, Jones hit out (at least he hit something), complaining that Dodger fans “never gave him a chance.” After attempting to trade him for a Super Nintendo and bag of beef jerky, Los Angeles admitted defeat the following January, releasing Jones with a year to go on his misbegotten contract.

That’s the Andruw Jones I remember. But that’s not the way most Yankee fans recall the pride of Curacao.

The majority of Yankee fans hear Jones’ name and think back to 1996, when a then 19-year-old rail-thin unknown stole the show in Game 1 of the World Series. He homered twice that game, unseating Mickey Mantle as the youngest player to go deep in the Fall Classic. It was a coming out party for Jones, a night that set the stage for a decade of superstar-level production.

At 33, we know Jones will never be the All-Star he once was with Atlanta. And we can only hope for his sake that he left behind his demons (and KFC Double Down fetish) in Los Angeles.

What you’re probably going to get at this point is something in between. That may be good enough for Brian Cashman and the Yankees, who are reportedly interested in bringing Jones aboard as the fourth outfielder.

Jones would essentially fill the role vacated by the deposed Marcus Thames. He’d start against lefties and serve as a pinch-hitter in close-and-late situations. Although Jones isn’t half the defensive player he once was—he won 10 consecutive Gold Gloves in center field while with the Braves—he’s still light years ahead of Thames, who plays the corner outfield positions like a Kardashian sister.

Still, I wonder how Jones would do in New York. It’s clear the Dodger fans got to him—though in fairness, those fans would’ve gotten to a T-1000 the way they carried on. Still, you have to wonder if he has the mindset to survive a slump in the Bronx.

Then again, Jones is only being asked to fill a part-time role. If he struggles, they’ll simply replace him. But you wonder if taking a risk on a fading player is a better idea than simply retaining Thames, who thrived in the role last year.

The Yankees no doubt liked what Thames did with the bat, but they seem to be on the hunt for a more well-rounded player. The question is whether Jones actually fits that mold at this stage in his career.

Dan Hanzus writes three columns a week on his New York Yankees site, River & Sunset. He can be reached at dhanzus@gmail.com. Follow Dan on Twitter @danhanzus.

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The latest name spinning on the pinstripe rumor mill is five-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner Andruw Jones.
 
Don’t get excited just yet Yankee fans, as Jones is far cry from the star he once was as an Atlanta Brave.
 
Currently, Jones is a 33-year-old, washed-up center-fielder who sat atop the most elite of hitters list from 1997-2007.
 
Since leaving Atlanta at the end of the 2007 season, Jones signed a two-year, $36.2 million dollar contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
 
After batting .158 with three home runs, 14 RBI and 72 strikeouts in 209 at-bats, Jones was released after his first season. Jones only played in 75 games, as he had season-ending knee surgery.
 
The Rangers signed Jones to a minor-league deal in 2009, where he hit 17 home runs and 43 RBI in 82 games and finished with a .214 batting average.
 
Next up, the Chicago White Sox took a chance, as Jones posted a .230 batting average, with 19 home runs and 48 RBI in 107 games.
 
I think the scariest stat is that in Jones’ last three seasons, he has struck out 221 times in his 768 at-bats. That translates into a strikeout every fourth time Jones records an official at-bat.
 
This is another desperate stretch by GM Brian Cashman to add a cheap player who could be motivated back to greatness on the Yankees.
 
Jones is still at an age where he could be darn good, as he is younger than both Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and numerous other players who are still thriving.
 
This means it’s attitude, not skill, that tripped up Jones, and that is much worse because he didn’t care to work anymore.
 
Look, it is never a good sign when a team pays a player to leave, especially one with Jones’ unspoiled history of 10 years with 25+ home runs.
 
Cashman keeps telling Yankee fans to be “patient,” but this is just another stupid attempt with minimal hopes to save his own ass.
 
Now, the New York Yankees have successfully been tied to every known name free agent in this whirlwind of a failed offseason.
 
What boggles my mind is why the Yankees have not signed the league’s best closer from 2010, Rafael Soriano, yet.
 
If Cashman claims he won’t give up the draft pick for Soriano, I guess the Yankee motto of “winning now” is no longer the theme.
 
Well, might as well lose another big-time arm because of the cost, but if Cashman thinks Jones or Colon will turn to gold, he needs to get his head checked.
 
The Yankees have the money, so what the hell is the problem? Not getting a free agent for fear of losing a draft pick surely doesn’t sound like the Cashman I have known. Must be Hal and Hank making a business decision again without thinking.
 
All I can say to Brian Cashman and company is this: We Yankee fans still want to win in 2011, so why don’t you?

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