Though I’ll not be taking up a collection for Andruw Jones, would it be an exaggeration to say his 2007 season cost him at least $120 million? From the Los Angeles Times’ Dylan Hernandez :
The Dodgers agreed to terms with free-agent center fielder Andruw Jones on a two-year guaranteed contract worth $36.2 million on Wednesday evening, according to multiple baseball sources. The deal is pending a physical.
By acquiring Jones on the night before the winter meetings end, the Dodgers filled two of their off-season needs — a middle-of-the-order bat and a defensive upgrade in center field.
The Dodgers are expected to move weak-armed Juan Pierre to left field, leaving Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier for right. The surplus of outfielders could make either Kemp or Ethier expendable and the Dodgers are believed to have been asked for Kemp in trade discussions for several available pitchers, including left-hander Erik Bedard of the Baltimore Orioles.
An official for the Oakland Athletics said earlier in the day that the Dodgers weren’t considered a viable trade partner for right-handers Dan Haren or Joe Blanton, but the potential availability of Kemp could change that.