Major Leagues: Braves mum on Glavine, Jones
Published 12:00 am Friday, January 16, 2009
Associated PressATLANTA ó The Braves will wait for Tom Glavine to meet with doctors next week before deciding whether to offer a one-year contract, and they are mulling whether to sign Andruw Jones.
Glavine made just 13 starts before season-ending elbow surgery and has not thrown off a mound since. The 305-game winner, who turns 43 in March, went 2-4 with a 5.56 ERA in his next season back with the Braves since 2002.
“Our conversations with Tommy are that once he gets to the next step, and he’s going to see the doctor next week, then we’ll sit down with him,” general manager Frank Wren said Friday.
Jones won 10 Gold Gloves as the Braves’ center fielder before signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the 2008 season.
After reporting to spring training overweight, Jones underwent knee surgery in May, and hit a career-low .158 with three homers, 14 RBIs and 76 strikeouts in 209 at-bats. Unable to trade Jones, the Dodgers released him Thursday and owe him $22.1 million.
Atlanta could sign him for the $400,000 minimum.
“I want to discuss it a little more internally to determine which direction we want to go,” Wren said.
Atlanta’s outfield currently includes right fielder Jeff Francoeur, center fielder Josh Anderson, reserve Gregor Blanco and left fielder Matt Diaz, who agreed Thursday to a one-year contract worth $1,237,500, a deal the Braves announced Friday.
Francoeur filed for arbitration along with closer Mike Gonzalez, first baseman Casey Kotchman, second baseman Kelly Johnson. Players and clubs swap proposed arbitration figures on Tuesday, with hearings set for next month.