Andruw Jones Claimed On Waivers; 10-5 Rights Loom

With Andruw Jones only days away from gaining trade veto power, the All-Star center fielder was claimed on waivers by an unnamed team, leaving the Braves until 1 p.m. ET Saturday to decide whether to take their last opportunity to deal Jones unfettered.
<!--------------------------START PLAYER CARD------------------><TABLE class=tableheadFixWidth cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=200 align=right><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD class=whitelink colSpan=2>Andruw Jones</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=right><TD align=left> Center Field
Atlanta Braves

Profile</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD align=middle><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=1 width=190 bgColor=#ffffff border=0><TBODY><TR class=stathead align=middle><TD align=middle colSpan=6>2006 SEASON STATISTICS</TD></TR><TR align=right><TD style="BACKGROUND: #bcbcb4" width="17%">GM</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND: #bcbcb4" width="17%">HR</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND: #bcbcb4" width="17%">RBI</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND: #bcbcb4" width="17%">R</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND: #bcbcb4" width="17%">OBP</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND: #bcbcb4" width="17%">AVG</TD></TR><TR align=right bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="BACKGROUND: #999999">104</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND: #999999">25</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND: #999999">93</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND: #999999">63</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND: #999999">.351</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND: #999999">.271</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!---------------------INLINE MINI-PLAYER CARD ENDS HERE--------------------->

That Jones was placed on waivers is unremarkable; he was one of hundreds of players, including many stars, who were placed on waivers earlier this week. What makes Jones' situation interesting is that on Aug. 15, he will gain 10-and-5 rights -- 10 years in the big leagues, five with the same team -- to block any proposed trade.


Multiple teams placed claims on Jones, according to major-league sources. But on Thursday afternoon, one team was awarded a claim on Jones. Now the Braves have two choices -- either work out a trade with the team who placed the claim by Saturday or pull Jones back from waivers. If they pull him back, they cannot trade him again for the rest of this season.

Jones' value in the trade market is relatively high right now, because he is a highly productive player locked up for only one more year -- at $13.5 million -- at a time when players like Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Lee might command $70 million packages on the free-agent market.

The Boston Red Sox tried to deal for Jones leading up to the trade deadline, with some intent to try to flip him to the Houston Astros for Roy Oswalt. Some scouts also think that the Los Angeles Angels, who've been looking for a bat, might have high interest in Jones.


Atlanta GM John Schuerholz, reached on his cell phone, said Friday afternoon that he would not comment on the team's internal b

This is truely incredible...I know teams play this game every summer but for a guy like Jones it's a little unusual and will be interesting to see what happens from here....also remember the teams with the lower winning percentage have first dibs.

I doubt very seriously Atlanta is gonna let him go.

I heard the Pirates claimed him!

:lolBIG:

Atlanta is looking to sheer payroll....with new ownership looming....NO WAY there were going to pay when this new contract came up, so they'll go and take a rookie pitcher or some other scrub for him !!

Teams will claim players knowing they don't want them just to block another team from sneaking away with a player...I don't think Jones is going anywhere.

Schouest said:

Atlanta is looking to sheer payroll....with new ownership looming....NO WAY there were going to pay when this new contract came up, so they'll go and take a rookie pitcher or some other scrub for him !!

Click to expand...

no way no way no way! Jones isn't going anywhere.

Journeyman said:

Teams will claim players knowing they don't want them just to block another team from sneaking away with a player...I don't think Jones is going anywhere.

Click to expand...

some might try this but it's very risky unless youre willing to take payroll because the braves can just say...you got him!

they would be crazy to trade him!

I don't think he'd get to Angels on the claim list unfortunately, would expect they did put in a claim, but it will surely be a sub .500 team that got awarded the claim

The Angels won't give up enough to get him, they have like three shortstops in the minors who can play as well as Cabrera and they don't want to trade anybody. If they don't get a bat they are done.

I don't think they'd take Cabrera in exchange, otherwise I agree with keeping the youth. Kendrick is untouchable imo, as is Brandon Wood. Aybar I'd trade.. given the worries on the pitching staff, I wouldn't trade Ervin Santana and think the O's were mad to reject the Tejada trade that saw them getting Ervin..

But the thing is, if they don't retract the waivers, teams don't have to give up anything. If they do retract them, they can't trade him this year.

I think this type of thing ruins the game . But it's not a game it's a business. Baseball was better in the pre- Curt Flood days and free agency for true fans. Folks in case you didn't know---ain't nuttin true or real anymore from an oldtimers perspective.

Its part of the business...that many fans don't care to look at the wide picture of things.

Was I shocked to read this? Yeah, a little bit considering Jones' contract isn't as gruesome as some (ie: when the Red Sox put Manny Ramirez on waivers), but still an over costed contract in today's market.

The whole waiver rules are pretty confusing...in fact, did you guys know that the Florida Marlins put both Dontrelle Willis & Miguel Cabrera on waivers during the last week of the trade line? Why? So they wouldn't have to field any trade offers and to assure other teams that they were both not available. Yes, obviously teams put in claims on them...but as soon as that happens, the Marlins would just pull the waiver rights back. And since they were on the waiver wire...they were not able to be even traded. Even if a team offered their top 10 prospects. Tricky stuff.

Basically saying..its difficult to voice an opinion when the rules of a waiver claim in baseball are difficult to understand, and a lot of the stuff in not public & behind closed doors.

How can you say he's overproced, he is still a superstar, the team just isn't as good...he would get more on the open market now...the top player salaries have not gone down.

I dont specifically know his contract...but last time I heard he is due $16 million through 2007 then he becomes a free agent. I could be wrong, but not far off.

Andruw Jones signed that six year deal when market prices were at a high.

I'm saying he is overpriced because I dont think he would get a $16 million contract for next year if he were a free agent now.

The example I love to use in comparison is Miguel Tejada. IMO, he was the most recent 'super star' to get a long term deal. Tejada ended up signing for an avg of $12mill/season.

You honestly think Jones would get $16 million for next season? I would expect him to receive $12-14 million/season when he becomes a free agent.

the market has changed dramatically since he signed his orginal deal...hence why he was put on waivers. MANY players from that signing period have been put on the waiver wire in the past, namely Manny Ramirez. Difference being Jones' contract is a bit more tolerable than a $19 million/season contract like Manny's.

Ok...I just looked it up.

From what I read Jones is due to make $13.5 next season...not too bad at all. But still a bit expensive.

Here's a copy/paste of an article I read:

"According to Baseball Prospectus, Jones will be worth about $9-10 mil from 2008-09 before the real dropoff begins. Obviously John Schuerholz understands this, and it seems highly unlikely that the Braves will enter the bidding for Andruw's next deal when you have to offer 5/65 just to get in the door"

The 5 yrs for 65 mill is exactly the price frame I expected. Not sure who will be his free agent competition...but he may be able to command $15/million. Surely can't see the Braves entering the bidding futher, so looks like they want to speed up the process & lose the $13.5 off their books.

Also of note...since Andruw Jones is in the National League...National League teams have first rights to waiver claims of NL players. Braves still have a shot at the wildcard, difficult to see the Braves giving Jones to a competitor. Add the fact his contract next season isnt too bad.

I agree w/ you J-Man...I can see the Braves pulling him back.

can he pitch? if so, he'd look great in a white sox uni

Friend of mine in the Chicago media says that its the Red Sox who's got the claim...still hard to believe it would have made it all the way to Boston. Buddy also says they are close to a deal....

Jones going nowhere.