Yankees, Jones Finalize Deal

According to SI's Jon Heyman, the Yankees have agreed to a one year contract with OF/DH Andruw Jones worth $2M.  If Jones meets all of his performance based incentives, the deal would max out at $3.2M.

While Jones is no longer good enough to play every day, he should be a solid right-handed alternative off of the bench for the Yankees.  Between filling in at the corner outfield spots against lefties and subbing for Jorge Posada at DH, Jones should have no problem accumulating 250-350 plate appearances in 2011.  Last season, Jones mashed lefties to the tune of .256/.373/.558 with eight home runs in 102 plate appearances. 

Jones, Yankees Close to a Deal

According to Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports, the Yankees and Andrew Jones are "nearing a one year deal" with the Yankees.  Currently, there's no word on how much Jones would make under the potential new deal. 

As I mentioned yesterday, Jones would be a pretty solid fit for the Yankees.  First of all, the Yankees are very lefty-heavy in terms of their current stable of outfielders.  Jones, as a right-hander, would provide a solid alternative off of the bench that can play either of the corner outfield positions at a league average level.  Secondly, Jones would be a solid option to serve as the right-handed platoon partner to Jorge Posada at DH.  Last season, Jones hit lefties to the tune of .256/.373/.558.  If the Yankees decide to pull the trigger on the deal (no guarantee at this point), Jones should be able to accumulate between 250-350 plate appearances in playing time. 

Last season for the White Sox, Jones produced a .364 wOBA with 19 home runs, and 1.8 wins above the replacement level. 

Yankees Take Long Look at Jones

According to SI's Jon Heyman, the Yankees have stepped up their pursuit for Andruw Jones.  

Throughout the offseason, the Yankees have been tied to Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon, among others.  Ramirez never made a lot of sense for the Yankees.  While he still carries a solid bat, Manny is a terrible defensive outfielder that would be limited to playing the expansive Yankee Stadium left field--when he was allowed to play the field.

Johnny Damon didn't make a lot of sense either.  His bat is in decline; his defensive range is virtually non-existent; and he's left-handed.  Considering that all three of the Yankees outfielders hit left-handed, you can see how signing him wouldn't make a lot of sense. 

Signing Jones makes a lot of sense.  He's right handed, hits with power, and still carries a decent glove.  While Jones, 33, is not the feared hitter he was five years ago, he's still a productive player.   Also, he's likely to be a lot cheaper; will require fewer plate appearances than either Damon or Ramirez; and comes without some of the clubhouse baggage that's followed them (primarily Ramirez). 

In 328 plate appearances with the White Sox last season, Jones put up a .364 wOBA with 19 home runs and provided 1.8 wins above the replacement level. 

Scott Boras the Lobbyist

Manny Being Manny...A locker room force to be reckoned with...

With all of the major free agents not named Rafael Soriano off of the market, agents are scrambling to find homes for their remaining free agents.  As ESPN's Jerry Crasnick points out, there is perhaps no group that's as undervalued or underappreciated on the free agent market than veteran DH-type hitters in their mid-to-late 30s.  As such, no agent is faced with a tougher task than Scott Boras who has Manny Ramirez, Johnny Damon, and Andruw Jones on his list of clients still looking for jobs.

Here's what Boras had to say about his some of his highest profile available clients:

“These guys are star players,” Boras said. “They’re championship-caliber players. Owners and general managers know they have extraordinary abilities, and they can be a force in the locker room and around young players. Those are things that most veteran players don’t offer.”

Star?  Championship caliber?  Apparently, Scott Boras hijacked Doc Brown's Delorian, revved it up to 88 MPH, and went back in time to 2005 when all three of those players were still in their prime.  I understand that it's his job to sell these players, but he's really pushing the envelope when he talks about their "extraordinary abilities" and their leadership abilities--especially when one his of his clients is Manny Ramirez.