Batting champ Chipper Jones wants to retire a Brave

Houston — On the day he became the oldest switch-hitting batting champion in major league history, Chipper Jones reiterated Sunday a desire to finish his career with the Braves.

But the 36-year-old third baseman, who finished with a career-best .364 average, has been around too long to not have a pragmatic view of the future.

“Yeah, definitely,” he said of his hope to stay with the Braves beyond next season. “I was born and bred into this organization. It’s the only organization I’ve ever known. Bobby Cox is the only manager I’ve ever played for.

“I can’t imagine the grass being any greener on the other side. I don’t want that to happen, but every dog has his day.”

Jones was limited to pinch-hitting during the last eight games because of a sore right shoulder. He went 2-for-3 with a homer and three walks in that period including a ninth-inning walk Sunday.

He finished just behind Mickey Mantle’s .365 average in 1957, the highest for a switch-hitter.

Jones captured his first National League batting title with a seven-point margin over St. Louis’ Albert Pujols (.357), with Colorado’s Matt Holliday (.321) a distant third. In 2007, Jones (.337) was second to Holliday (.340).

The last switch-hitting batting champion was Boston’s Bill Mueller in 2003, also the previous oldest (32) switch-hitter to win a title.

“It’s sweet vindication, after a bunch of people said I was done,” said Jones, the first Braves player to win a batting title since Terry Pendleton in 1991. “The last couple of years have been awesome, from a numbers standpoint.”

He smiled and said, “To have had as good a year this year at my advanced age is awfully satisfying.”

Jones wants to play four more seasons. His 22 homers were his second-fewest in a decade — he hit 21 in 109 games in 2005 — and his 75 RBIs were the second-fewest of his career. But Jones, Pujols and Milton Bradley were the only players with on base-plus-slugging percentages (OPS) above 1.000.

“I know that I can still go out there and play the game at a high level,” Jones said.

Someone mentioned to Jones that his quote about the grass being greener could be interpreted to mean he expected to be traded. He smiled and repeated what he’s said in the past: If Dale Murphy could be traded, then so could he.

He also noted David Justice was traded. And even Braves legend Hank Aaron.

he Braves have Jones for 2009 in a vested option year. He’s not under contract beyond that, but expects to work out a new deal with the Braves.

“I’m sure that we will be approached at some point this offseason,” he said. “Otherwise, with next year being my last year, God forbid we’re in the same boat we’re in now [no postseason]. Otherwise, you could be looking at scenarios where that have me on the trading block next July.”

He can veto any trade as a “10-and-5” player (at least 10 years of service and five with current team), but Jones said he wouldn’t force the Braves to keep him. General manager Frank Wren said the Braves intend to have him back at third base next season.

Jones said he’s long understood that he or anybody else could be traded.

“I don’t want to play somewhere I’m not wanted,” he said. “But in the same sense, of the places I would go, the list is very short. Got to be the right situation for me and my family. That’s what being in one place for so long does for you: allows you to go where you want to go.

“But I don’t want to make it like it’s a foregone conclusion that I’m going to be gone next year. My goal is to play my entire career with the Atlanta Braves.”

Etc.

Kelly Johnson went 2-for-4 Sunday and hit .398 with 19 RBIs in 25 September games. He hit .327 in 55 games after July 28. … After ranking among NL leaders in relief appearances for most of the season, Blaine Boyer pitched in only four games this month, the last on Sept. 17. He had a 3.93 ERA in 51 appearances before the All-Star break, and an 11.17 ERA in 25 appearances after the break.