MLB Rumors: LA to Deal Andruw Jones, and Mannywood II??

by Ray Guilfoyle on Jan 2, 2009 9:15 AM EST in Baseball

TJ Simers from the LA Times reported last evening that the LA Dodgers are working on a deal to "unload" Andruw Jones and save the team $12 million. Jones is scheduled to make $15 million in 2009, and is in the last year of his contract. How the Dodgers save $12 million is the big question. According to MLB.com's Ken Gurnick, here are a few possibilities:

The Dodgers are hoping to spread that money over more years. It could be done through an extension, which would move a chunk of money off the 2009 payroll. There also is the possibility of a deferred buyout, either to facilitate a trade or allow Jones to become a free agent.

The money saved will be used in an offer to Manny Ramirez. If this "deal" happens, it would be a very smart, and creative, deal to say the least. To move salary from one of the worst contracts ever to Manny Ramirez would be quite the coup for Ned Colletti.

This move could be in response to the Troy Renck article in yesterday's Denver Post stating the Giants are "quietly and aggressively" pursuing Manny. Boras, who is also the agent for Jones, more than likely orchestrated this deal to allow Jones to be traded, as the reduced 2009 salary would make him more attractive to potential trade partners.

The $64,000 question is the size and term of the contract offered to Manny. I imagine Ned will attempt to stick to his guns and keep the contract short in return for a higher annual salary....2 years and $50 million could get a deal done. ESPN's Buster Olney has written several times about how much money will keep Manny motivated throughout the season, especially given the state of the free agent market which is as frozen as the credit market was in the 4th quarter of 2008.

Poll

If Ned Colletti can 1. rework Andruw Jones contract, 2. trade Jones, and 3. sign Manny Ramirez, should he be handed the 2009 GM of the year award?

Yes, completing these moves frees up more payroll to sign/trade for a starting pitcher

24 votes

No, he still has 9 more months to eliminate the benefits of these deals.

12 votes

36 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Need another choice

No. You don’t win GM of the Year for fixing your own mistakes.

by Rad on Jan 2, 2009 9:57 AM EST reply actions

(Smirk)

Fake Teams - a proud member of the SB Nation

by faketeams on Jan 2, 2009 9:59 AM EST up reply actions

good point

BUT, how many baseball writers-Sheehan, Olney, others-said that the Dodgers made a great deal signing Jones to just two years?? The same goes for Schmidt.
Now Pierre is a different story.

raygu

by Ray Guilfoyle on Jan 2, 2009 10:09 AM EST reply actions

Calculated Risks

As any fantasy owner knows, you have to take calculated risks, and that some of them do not pay off. A good GM fixes them quickly.

That said. A GM of the Year does not have as many losers as Coletti.

Also, I think that Coletti was praised for not locking into risky signings beyond 2 years. But it was clear at the time that both of those signings had a high likelihood of crapping out.

by Rad on Jan 2, 2009 1:32 PM EST reply actions

Colletti

has turned the trend a bit….with the deal for Manny, Maddux, not so much for Blake, but Santana is blocked, and he hit well in a hitter’s league. I want to see how he hits this year in AAA for the Indians.
I am not saying he’s a great GM by any stretch, but if he can rework the Jones deal and trade him….the likelyhood of that happening before now was 0%.

raygu

by Ray Guilfoyle on Jan 2, 2009 2:46 PM EST reply actions

Boras for GM of the Year

I just remembered that Scott Boras is Anruw’s agent. It would not be above Boras to cut a deal on Andruw, to allow the Dodgers to sign Manny at close to the orignal offer (as there was nothing else out there).

by Rad on Jan 3, 2009 2:13 AM EST reply actions