Braves, Jones go separate ways

ATLANTA — The circus (catch) has left town: Andruw Jones' career with the Atlanta Braves is over.

Braves general manager John Schuerholz met with the long-time center fielder Tuesday and told him the Braves would not re-sign him, because they couldn't, or wouldn't, meet the "top tier" contract expectations expressed by Jones' agent, Scott Boras.

"This guy's been remarkable," Schuerholz said of Jones, 30, a nine-time Gold Glove winner who hit 368 homers in just over 11 seasons. "But it just doesn't work for us. ... Andruw won't fit on our team. We have to use our assets in the most effective way, to put the best players that we can on the field."

Braves third baseman Chipper Jones said: "It's a sad day for the Braves. Certainly defensively, we've probably seen the best there is. If there's someone better than Andruw, I can't imagine it and certainly haven't seen it. But this is the business of baseball and we have to swallow hard and move on."

Schuerholz met with Jones in the GM's office at Turner Field, thanked him for his long service to the Braves, and explained to him why they couldn't afford to re-sign him.

"He was very professional, very understanding," Schuerholz said. "He was appreciative that he heard it quickly and heard it honestly."

Jones told the Associated Press, "I'm fine with it. I'm appreciative of the chance they gave me to play for Atlanta all these years. I understand the decision they have to make. That's just the way it is. It's a business. ... I just have to move on and start with a new team."

Schuerholz said the Braves would look to fill Jones' considerable shoes by exploring options within the organization along with the free-agent and trade markets. Jeff Francoeur has center-field ability, but the Braves would prefer to keep him in right field.

The Braves have top center field prospect Jordan Schafer, but he played this season in Class A and isn't expected to be ready for the majors until at least another year or two.

They might consider a stopgap veteran replacement until then, perhaps LaGrange, Ga., native Mike Cameron, who hit .242 with 21 homers and 78 RBIs this season for San Diego.

Boras said he received no counterproposal from the Braves after sending an e-mailed proposal to Schuerholz in December 2006 and a letter to the GM just before the start of the 2007 season.

Boras is believed to be seeking for Jones a seven-year contract worth at least $20 million annually, despite his disappointing performance this season. Jones hit .222 with 26 homers and 94 RBIs this season, his worst offensive totals since his 1997 rookie year.

"Andruw Jones was treated no differently than Greg Maddux or Tom Glavine," Boras said, citing two Braves pitchers who left as free agents in recent years. The team made no offer to Maddux, a Boras client, because Schuerholz said they didn't think they could come close to his expected asking price.

The Braves were outbid for Glavine, who went to the New York Mets, where he won his 300th game this season.

"These are historic Braves players," Boras said. "Because of the Braves' budget, this is something that's going to happen to a lot of players, because apparently the current Braves can only afford to keep a certain number of superstar players. ...

"I haven't spoke to John in well over a year," Boras added, "which is contrary to what general managers do when they have statured players on their team."

Schuerholz said there was no counterproposal made by the Braves after the December e-mail from Boras' office because the sides would have been so far apart that there was no point.

"I'm a little surprised by the Braves making it known this quickly, this early," Chipper Jones said. "Obviously I expected some form of negotiation process. I didn't know how much of a bullet that Andruw would have to bite in order to stay, and I think we all expected he probably would have to. But for him not to even be given the opportunity, it's a little bit surprising."

The Braves are expected to raise their $84 million payroll to about $90 million or slightly higher, but some $65 million of that will probably go to Chipper Jones, first baseman Mark Teixeira, and pitchers Tim Hudson, John Smoltz and Mike Hampton.

Schuerholz acknowledged that one reason the Braves couldn't re-sign Andruw Jones was Teixeira, who had 17 homers and 56 RBIs in 52 games for the Braves after coming from the Texas Rangers in a July 31 trade. He's eligible for free agency after next season, and the Braves want to keep the former Georgia Tech standout and American League Gold Glove winner, who's also represented by Boras.

Teixeira is expected to command at least $12 million in his final season of arbitration in 2006, then perhaps $20 million or more annually in a long-term contract.

"I have clients on the (Braves) team, and I know they're not happy about Andruw's departure," Boras said. "He's the best defensive center fielder in the game. This guy's an exceptional player, and when he's not on a team, he's not a guy you can go out and replace."

David O'Brien writes for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.