Wednesday, November 14, 2001
Baseball notebook
Jones a Brave through 2007
The Associated Press
ATLANTA — Andruw Jones could have tested his value on the open market after next season. Instead, he decided to stay with the Atlanta Braves.
Jones, an outfielder, and the Braves agreed Tuesday to a $75 million, six-year contract that runs through 2007.
“Everybody was talking about going to free agency,” Jones said. “That was all just talk.”
Atlanta general manager John Schuerholz said the two sides met Monday and had no trouble working out a deal.
“Andruw decided what he wanted to do,” Schuerholz said. “When we spoke, we learned quickly we were pretty much on the same page.”
Jones batted only .251 and struck out 142 times, but he had 34 homers, 104 RBI and won his fourth straight Gold Glove.
“He was still able to amass very, very strong numbers as far as run production,” Schuerholz said. “No one is totally happy with what Andruw did as compared to what he is capable of doing. But we still think he's one of the best, brightest, exciting young players in all of baseball.”
Jones is represented by Scott Boras, who has compared the 24-year-old outfielder with another of his clients, shortstop Alex Rodriguez. Almost a year ago, Rodriguez agreed to a record $252 million, 10-year deal with Texas.
While Jones won a record $8.2 million in salary arbitration last winter, he insisted that money was not his primary objective. He relied heavily on the counseling of his father, Henry.
“I don't want to have more money than everybody,” Jones said. “I just want to live comfortable. In the future, I don't want to do something else to raise my family. But I never thought about making $20 million.”
Jones would have been eligible for free agency after the 2002 World Series, but felt comfortable with the Braves, a team that has won 10 straight division titles.
CONTRACTION:
Lawyers for players and owners hope to agree today on dates for hearing the union's grievance to stop two major-league teams from being eliminated.
Commissioner Bud Selig reiterated he hopes to complete contraction by Dec.15, with Montreal and Minnesota the most likely candidates for elimination, but the union contends the move violates its labor contract and that franchises can't be folded without its permission.
INDIANS:
Eddie Murray, who got his 3,000th career hit while with Cleveland in 1995, interviewed to be the club's hitting coach. Murray has been on Baltimore's coaching staff the past four seasons, serving as first base coach the past two years.
CANSECO ARREST:
Jose Canseco was arrested on charges he and his twin brother, Ozzie, got into a nightclub fight that left one man with a broken nose and another needing 20 stitches in his lip. Jose Canseco was charged with two counts of aggravated battery in the Halloween night scuffle at Miami Beach, Fla., and his brother was charged with one count.
Canseco said he was at the club with his brother and three women when a man grabbed the player's date inappropriately and became aggressive. Jose Canseco said another man approached his brother, who pushed him back, touching off the fight.
MCGWIRE UPDATE:
Mark McGwire said there's “zero” chance he'll be like Michael Jordan and come out of retirement. In his first interview since retiring Sunday, McGwire told ESPN that his mind is made up.
“Michael Jordan can control the game,” McGwire said. “Give me the ball, I'll do what I want with it. When you're a power hitter, you're not in control of anything. There's absolutely no way. Zero.”
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Tipoff 2001
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Ohio State basketball preview
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College basketball roundup
NBA Roundup
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