AP source: Rangers agree to deal with Andruw Jones

[February 09, 2009]  ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- The Texas Rangers have agreed to a minor league contract with center fielder Andruw Jones, who was released by the Los Angeles Dodgers last month.

The deal was disclosed Sunday by a person familiar with the agreement who spoke on condition of anonymity because the Rangers had not yet announced it. It was reported earlier by several media outlets.

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said Sunday night that a deal could be announced as early as Monday.

If added to the major league roster, Jones would receive a $500,000, one-year contract and the chance to earn about $1 million more in performance bonuses based on plate appearances. That money would be offset against remaining money owed by the Dodgers, whose deal with Jones called for a $15 million salary in 2009.

Jones agreed to a $36.2 million, two-year contract with the Dodgers in December 2007, then was released on Jan. 15 after agreeing to defer much of the remaining money he was owed over six years.

A five-time All Star who won 10 straight Gold Gloves with the Atlanta Braves, Jones was injured last season and hit only .158 with three home runs and 14 RBIs in 75 games. He had knee surgery in May and asked to be traded, but the Dodgers found no one interested.

[Associated Press; By STEPHEN HAWKINS]

AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum in New York contributed to this report.

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