Andruw Jones, a $36.2 million bust with the Los Angeles Dodgers, was released by the team yesterday.
Heralded as the answer to the Dodgers' power-hitting void when he signed his rich two-year contract in December 2007, Jones was injured part of last season and was mostly ineffective, hitting only .158 with three home runs and 14 RBIs in 75 games.
"Obviously, this is a disappointing day for both us and Andruw, as we all had high hopes for him when he signed last year given his track record and everything that we had seen from him in the past," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said.
"I know that Andruw is also very disappointed in the way things turned out and the best thing to do at this point is to turn the page and we wish him well."
The 31-year-old center fielder reported to spring training overweight, then was booed roundly by fans as he struggled at the plate during the season.
He had knee surgery in May and finished the season on the bench as the Dodgers won the NL West and beat the Chicago Cubs in the NL divisional series before losing to Philadelphia in the NL Championship Series.
Jones asked to be traded after that, and the Dodgers tried but found no takers. The Dodgers owe Jones $22.1 million over the next six years.
Red Sox
Kevin Youkilis and the Red Sox have preliminarily agreed to a four-year contract that would guarantee Youkilis about $41 million, a baseball official said. The deal buys out Youkilis' last two years of arbitration eligibility and delays his chance to become a free agent by at least two years.
Rangers
All-Star shortstop Michael Young will accept the decision to move him to third base and doesn't expect to be traded. "After some careful consideration over the last month or so and in an effort not to let this thing drag out," Young said, "I decided to put an end to this and start bearing down on playing third base."
White Sox
Free agent Bartolo Colon, a former Cy Young Award winner and two-time All-Star, agreed to a $1 million, one-year contract with Chicago. He is a two-time 20-game winner,
Rays
Tampa Bay center fielder B.J. Upton thinks his surgically repaired left shoulder is progressing as expected, but there's a chance he might not be ready to join the lineup opening day.
Padres
David Eckstein and San Diego agreed on a one-year contract, and the 2006 World Series MVP is expected to play second base for San Diego.
Elsewhere
Convicted steroids dealer Kirk Radomski appeared at the federal court house in Washington where a grand jury is being asked to determine whether Roger Clemens should be indicted on charges of lying to Congress. A former Mets' clubhouse attendant, Radomski was sentenced to five years' probation after pleading guilty to distributing steroids and laundering money.
First Published: January 16, 2009, 5:00 a.m.
