Andruw Jones??? Wait for it...
I've yet to see or hear any official confirmation, but KCAL 9's Gary Miller just reported that the Dodgers signed Andruw Jones to a 2-year/36 million smackeroo deal. Wow. Again, gotta wait to see it in writing (or get a phone call from Ned Colletti, I guess) before we know for sure, but I wanted to keep y'all in the loop.
More details as they come in.
UPDATE: Looks like a done deal. Here's some writing, from the extremely reliable Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. More text, from our very own Dylan Hernandez.
-AK

I think the signing of Andruw Jones is great because we need a power hitter in the middle of our lineup, as well as a veteran player who has playoff experience. I also think adding Rolen would be MUCH better than adding Beltre considering Rolen is just as good as an infielder and he is a clutch hitter (he hit over .400 in the World Series for the Cardinals). If we can get Rolen for LaRoche and Ethier, I would do it...our lineup would look like this:
1.) Furcal
2.) Pierre (nobody will take his contract, but at least he will hit .290/.300 and steal 50+ bases)
3.) Loney
4.) Jones
5.) Kemp
6.) Kent
7.) Rolen
8.) Martin
That can be just as potent as the Tiger's lineup especially if Loney and Kemp become the super-stars they appear to be
Posted by: DODGERS | December 06, 2007 at 01:20 AM
I think it's a good signing. This guy is dangerous with the bat.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | December 06, 2007 at 01:41 AM
I can't believe some of you think Colletti is an idiot. He signed Pierre for 5 years which was too long but you act as if he is the worst player in the game. He is the toughest man in the game to K as well. Over his career he averages 100 runs, 200 hits, 54 SB, .301 average & .348 OBP. These are really good numbers. The only thing he doesnt do is walk enough to have a better OBP. His numbers are actually better than Furcal's but he's considered a good player. He plays SS so he gets a pass which I understand. If Pierre had reached base 20 more times throughout the year his OBP would have been above .350 which would have been good. If the Dodgers sign him for 3 years or 5 years it doesn't matter as long as he continues to hit .300 with 200 hits 100 runs and 60+ SB's. He's a better lead off hitter than Furcal also who I see most of you are fine with at that spot. I suggest you check out the numbers before you decide someone sucks rather than just pile on b/c it's what everyone else is doing.
Posted by: Jason | December 06, 2007 at 01:52 AM
How many homers did Kent hit last year?
3-4 of Loney and Jones is kinda sexy in a non-sexual manly arm-hug kinda way.
Now can we get a pitcher?
Posted by: benzojones | December 06, 2007 at 05:50 AM
Love this signing, IF it doesn't result in Kemp or Ethier being traded (although I could accept an Ethier trade a lot better than one involving Kemp). Don't tell me that Pierre can't be moved. I'm sure there's a team out there willing to take on a .290 -.300 hitter who stole 64 bases, especially if the Dogers throw in some money to subsidize the remaining years on Pierre's contract.
As for pitching, spend money, NOT players. Sign a free agent pitcher or two, or else look to the farm system. Maybe from Elbert, Miller, McDonald, etc. we can find a fith starter. Perhaps even a healthier Loaiza would be serviceable. If Beltre can be had for a reasonable price, by all means, get him. Just his defense alone would be worth it. And he did hit 26 HR's with 99 RBI in 2007.
However, getting Jones and keeping Pierre in the lineup, does NOT add much power. And it keeps Pierre's pogun arm in the outfield.
By the way, I could accept an Ethier trade (depending on what we get in return) simply because I think he might be replaceable with Delwyn Young. In any case, I'd still like to see Pierre moved out of town.
Posted by: Brooklyn Dodger | December 06, 2007 at 06:18 AM
AK/BK,
I posted regarding this before. Is there any reason I keep getting confirmation messages like the one below EVERYTIME I post?
"Verify your comment
As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below.
This test is used to prevent automated robots from posting comments."
Posted by: Brooklyn Dodger | December 06, 2007 at 06:21 AM
88
I think we all would be pretty excited if Loney and Kemp hit 25 a piece, I think your 38 and 35 prediction is a little too optimistic. They are good, I have no doubt about that, but thats looking for a lot. But I think you are pretty close to the rest of the team, a healthy furcal and Laroche should be able to put up 12 and 21, while a declining kent will hit 21 out of the park and 60 to the warning track, get that man some HGH
Posted by: Blue Fan | December 06, 2007 at 06:22 AM
I like this deal as long as we keep Kemp. Every team asks for Kemp in a trade which should tell us something.
To this point, Ned has not traded away anyone that has made us regret that trade. Bradley was putting up decent numbers until he self destructed yet again. And I will take Ethier over Bradley straight up.
Good article on Yahoo about Pierre having to compete with Ethier for time in left. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AtGC3FA_oEPaBeAUpaJPKHMRvLYF?slug=sh-dodgersjones120507&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
"A Dodgers source said that if the season began today, Pierre would compete with Andre Ethier for playing time in left field. Matt Kemp and Ethier would be penciled into right field."
Finally, a voice of reason for Pierre not being a given in the lineup.
It sure would be nice if someone would take Pierre off our hands.
Unfortunately, I guess that means Mr Grumpy will be back at 2B.
If Ned signs Kuroda, I would say that this has been a top notch off season for the Blue!
Posted by: Lex | December 06, 2007 at 06:30 AM
Everyone is putting down Jone's numbers because he played in Atlanta...
Since when is that a hitter's ballpark???
Posted by: Lupo562 | December 06, 2007 at 06:35 AM
On the 3B topic. A change is not necessarily an upgrade. I don't see anyone out there that is better than LaRoche/Nomar combo with Abreu in reserve.
The best idea that I have heard is bring Adrian back.
Not sure what their needs are but I would offer: LaRoche, Pierre, and Timberr. Probably would not get the deal done since it would eliminate too much of our baggage.
Posted by: Lex | December 06, 2007 at 06:36 AM
Pierre had the most runs of any Dodger, I think it is wrong not to respect his speed as our lead off man. His arm was weak in center , but maybe that wont be as bad in left . As a teamate he has a can do attitude and is probably a good clubhouse influence. I like Juan Pierre. Yeah we signed A Jones, good move, go Dodgers!
Posted by: fred | December 06, 2007 at 06:41 AM
Quick quiz ladies and gentlemen of the Dodgers Blog. Which national league centerfielder has played 162 games in each of the last three years, and averaged 194 hits, 60 stolen bases, batted .287, and only struck out an average of 40 times a year? Stumped or just too busy writting another post to slam Juan Pierre? Thats right, it is Juan Pierre. So get off the Pierre is terrible slant. Save that for some truly overrated. Pierre stole 64 and batted .293 with 196 hits in 2007. How is that terrible? If his name was Brett Butler, people would be singing his praises.
Posted by: richard | December 06, 2007 at 06:49 AM
I never thought Boras would blink, but he did. Good for him good for Jones good for Colletti good for the Dodgers. I like this deal. 2 year contract should motivate Jones to bust his ass and Dodgers should gain from his fielding and hopefully power.
Posted by: DODGER 1955 | December 06, 2007 at 06:51 AM
Bullpen help is everywhere, so just keep Ethier to be the 4th outfielder and give people rest. He is such a solid defender he can probably play some 1st base and still play 110 games this year. Don't need to trade anyone, esepcially not Pierre. Plus Andruw Jones will probably be hurt at some point this year and it is good to have some depth in the outfield. With Ethier and probably Nomar coming off the bench is some servicable players in your pocket for pinch hitting.
Posted by: richard | December 06, 2007 at 07:00 AM
The Andruw Jones signing is a concrete admission on Colleti's part to the embarassing reality we've known for several months - that last winters' signing of Juan Pierre was an ill-conceived gross over-payment for solid, shining, mediocrity. Kemp and Ethier are both far more valuable to us than Pierre is. He seems like a great guy, a class-act, but he looks like a good Double-A level shortstop more than anything else. Can we get ANY team to take him in a trade, whatever the necessary cost of salary-sharing we'd eat??
Posted by: rat | December 06, 2007 at 07:17 AM
In my mind it remains to be seen will Andrew turn out to be like Shawn Green who had two great years then was injured and never has been the same. Or will he be like Mike Lowell who was great for the Marlins then came back after a 'decline'
Also, If you can afford to pay this salary then money IS NO object to improving the team if the deal is right. So why consider trading Kemp or Ethier. Just dump Pierre and eat his salary? Ned has already admitted that Pierre was a blunder by getting Jones. Its not like Pierres play was a surprise. As a matter of fact he improved over his last year with the cubs.
David
Posted by: David | December 06, 2007 at 07:47 AM
88
those are some pretty ambitious hr predictions. I'm as big a Loney/Kemp fan as anyone, but c'mon.
They ain't hitting 73 combined home runs next year. Please, stop with these asinine production predictions.
Posted by: nick | December 06, 2007 at 08:00 AM
I'd try to acquire Brandon Inge for 3rd base. He's a very good 3rd baseman who would benefit from a move from the Tigers and the AL. His stats would probably go up in the NL and could be retained cheaply or cheaper than Beltre. He's a pesky type hitter and a hard out at the plate with a little power.
Detroit will be looking to dump him now.
Posted by: Vinny 5743 | December 06, 2007 at 08:57 AM
By the way, in my previous post I missed a typo. It's Pierre's "popgun" arm I was referring to, NOT his "pogun" arm. Sorry.
Posted by: Brooklyn Dodger | December 06, 2007 at 09:01 AM
I'm glad the Dodgers were able to get the big bat without sacrificing any prospects. I hope Andrew Jones is healthy and ready to play.
Posted by: SFDodgerGirl | December 06, 2007 at 09:05 AM
1955,
Maybe Boras didn't blink. The Mitchell report is about to come out.
Posted by: Chunkdog32 | December 06, 2007 at 09:12 AM
Brooklyn Dodger (and others)-
Hey. We're aware of the bot problem, and trying to figure out why he seems to be popping up more these days than before. We haven't changed the security settings, but perhaps it's a software thing. We're trying to find out.
Thanks.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | December 06, 2007 at 09:40 AM
Why not move Kent to third, put Abreau at second, get the Japanese pitcher. Solid pitching, extraordinary up-the-middle fielding, and the added power of Jones while keeping Kent's power (and solving his lack of range) could lead to the postseason.
Posted by: lowell dunlap | December 06, 2007 at 09:43 AM
Oh yeah, Pierre had 96 runs in 2007. Now with another minimum 25 HRs from Jones in the line up, that gives Pierre another 15 runs putting him at 111 for 2008. There was no "blunder" in signing Pierre. He ended up doing what they expected. Furcal's ankle was messed up most of the year and he never starting stealing bases until August. Give him a full year of productivity and he will have about 45 SB along with Pierre's 55-60 and that is over 100 for the first two in the line up. There will be alot of fast balls served up to Jones, Loney, Kent, and Kemp. The Dodgers lineup will be great this year.
Posted by: richard | December 06, 2007 at 09:43 AM
Brandon Inge would not be a good acquisition. I looked at his stats yesterday. Yes, he does have a little pop in his bat, but the emphasis is on "little". He's a lifetime .241 hitter. I would suggest that LaRoche (even Nomar) could match or exceed his numbers. Inge also strikes out a lot for a guy that provides only modest power. The only plus I see, is that he could serve as the emergency catcher, since he originally came up as a catcher.
I am content to acquire a free agent pitcher or two, and keep what we have. If someone like Beltre could be obtained at a reasonable cost, I say go ahead and do it. Otherwise, add a pitcher or two, and I like this team as constituted.
As for the Pierre defenders, here's why I would like to send him packing. For someone with 12 lifetime homers, he simply does not get on base enough. Add to that a nothing arm that allows opposing players to run at will, and his speed has more than been negated.
Forget that Andruw Jones only had a .311 OBP in 2007. That was a function of his unusually low .222 BA. If the latter was an aberration, then I prefer to focus on the fact that he drew 70 BB's. He also drew 82 BB's in 2006. In the past two years Pierre drew 32 and 33 BB's, respectively (and with a lot more AB's).
Playing Pierre also negates the reason for signing Jones, which is to add power. Moving Pierre to left only subtracts from the potential power that could be provided by Ethier/Young. Also, not only did we suffer with Juan's noodle arm last year, but we also had to put up with Gonzo's rag arm. An outfield of Ethier in left, Jones in center, and Kemp in right would give us strong arms everywhere in the outfield, and would certainly discourage teams from running on the Dodgers. I'm not sure it would even result in lots more runners being thrown out, since they would simply stay put for fear of being thrown out.
And furthermore, power is contagious. With no one to pitch around, pitchers would begin to feel the pressure, and our sluggers would begin seeing a lot more fastballs. Also, a more potent offense means a lot less calls to what last season was an overworked bullpen (83 appearances each for Broxton and Beimel). Even Proctor appeared in 83 games, albeit they were split between the Dodgers and Yankees. In any case, he too was overworked after he came to LA.
One more point. If Repko is healthy (certainly not a given), he can more than replace Pierre, since he is a far superior outfielder with a cannon arm. Delwyn Young's bat also makes him an attractive spare outfielder.
Simply put, we don't need Juan.
Posted by: Brooklyn Dodger | December 06, 2007 at 09:46 AM