Report: Braves rework Chipper's deal
New contract with third baseman would give Braves flexibility
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com
ATLANTA -- Chipper Jones has said twice in the past year that he would be willing to rework his contract if it could help the Braves keep or acquire top-caliber talent. It appears he's going to get the opportunity to commit that selfless act.
According to The Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Jones has agreed to a restructuring that will reduce his salary from $17 million to $11 million in 2006 and save the club as much as $15 million over the next three seasons.
While there is certainly a chance this act will be legally completed within the next week, the Braves are denying that any agreement has been reached.
The two parties have worked out the financial details of the restructured contract. But before it becomes official, Jones must first pass a physical exam for insurance purposes. That could occur within the next few days.
If the deal is officially completed, the Braves will have some extra money that could be used to help keep Rafael Furcal in Atlanta or assist in the acquisition of a proven top-notch closer like Trevor Hoffman. They are two of this winter's most attractive free agents.
According to the AJC report, Jones' new contract would erase the very attainable vesting options that would have garnered him a $15 million salary in the 2007 and 2008 seasons. Instead, he'll be guaranteed an $11 million salary for both of those seasons.
The report also states he'll receive a $4 million signing bonus in January and have a vesting option for 2009 that will be worth between $8-11 million. That salary would be based his on-field performance in 2008.
The current contract, which is expected to be restructured after the physical exam, has just one more guaranteed season. The options for 2007 and 2008 would have vested if he'd simply recorded just 450 plate appearances or been an All-Star the previous season. Despite missing more than six weeks with a foot injury in 2005, he registered 432 plate appearances.
If both of those options had vested, Jones, who will be 37 after the 2009 season, also would have received a $5 million bonus.
Jones first expressed his willingness to restructure his contract when it looked like the Braves might need some extra money to secure Tim Hudson's long-term services. But that proved unnecessary when they announced they had secured a deal that would keep the right-hander in Atlanta through 2009 and possibly 2010.
With the extra money Jones is providing, the Braves now may be able to compete with the lucrative offers the Cubs and possibly the Mets are expected to give Furcal. They at least can get close to those offers and quite possibly reap the benefits of a hometown discount.
Edited to quotes. Should not get post credits fof copying someones artical. From now on put copied articals in quotes and make sure you give credit to the writer. Thank you
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Season Record: Pre 3 - 1: Reg: 0 - 0
Posted that he had done this in the Wagner thread...true team player that wants to win..enough said.
Great guy, for all those idiots that said we should trade him on the Braves Message Board, now do you want to? Chipper just gave us, the Braves, the flexability to go out and resign Furcal and Hoffman/Jones..great guy, wouldn't trade him for anybody..Not even A-Rod, Pujols, Ortiz, Bonds..no one
Posted that he had done this in the Wagner thread...true team player that wants to win..enough said.
Great guy, for all those idiots that said we should trade him on the Braves Message Board, now do you want to? Chipper just gave us, the Braves, the flexability to go out and resign Furcal and Hoffman/Jones..great guy, wouldn't trade him for anybody..Not even A-Rod, Pujols, Ortiz, Bonds..no one
I agree when Chipper is healthy he can play as good as anyone IMO. I'm gonna miss it when he retires. And didn't Chipper do this last offseason to? I remember someone did this.
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St. Louis Rams Owner
Season Record: Pre 3 - 1: Reg: 0 - 0
Chipper said he was willing to, however I believe JS got mad that he said this for some reason and didn't allow him to. Smoltzy signed for less, or restructured his contract..one of the two, last offseason. That is who you are thinking of.
Another great reason I love the Braves....would the Yankees do this or the redsox? HELL NO! Chipper is a class act..although I wouldn't mind having Pujols on the team....he's much younger!
Also, I think Kelly Johnson should stay and Langerhans can go. I amnot a big fan of Langerhans but Kelly Johnson I think will be great in the near furture.
Maybe if Marte can do better at teh Major League level, then I'd move him over to SS if Furcal can't/won't sign. Keep Chipper at 3rd and Johnson in Left.
Another great reason I love the Braves....would the Yankees do this or the redsox? HELL NO! Chipper is a class act..although I wouldn't mind having Pujols on the team....he's much younger!
Also, I think Kelly Johnson should stay and Langerhans can go. I amnot a big fan of Langerhans but Kelly Johnson I think will be great in the near furture.
Maybe if Marte can do better at teh Major League level, then I'd move him over to SS if Furcal can't/won't sign. Keep Chipper at 3rd and Johnson in Left.
You would rather have KJ or Langerhans? That is suprising I'd rather have Langerhans. He is clutch, and also with a little more work he will be a great hitter. HE also plays good D. KJ strikes out too much.
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St. Louis Rams Owner
Season Record: Pre 3 - 1: Reg: 0 - 0
Hmmmm I think when you copy an artical from somewhere you should have to put it in Quotes so that you dont get point credits for typing it.
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"Anyone who is not shocked by quantum theory has not understood it." - Niels Bohr
"many-worlds interpretation" (MWI) which postulates that at the quantum level, everything that can happen does happen, and that each possible outcome branches the universe into another
Another great reason I love the Braves....would the Yankees do this or the redsox? HELL NO!
Well, they wouldn't need to because when have those teams ever been in financial troubles? But I still hate them just the same...
I love to see athletes do this. It just goes away from the stereotype that they're all greedy and bad people although I wouldn't say 11 million a year is tough to live off of.
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l 1 KC Chief Super Bowl Championship l - l 1 KC Royals World Series Title l - l 2 Kansas University Jayhawk NCAA Basketball Chamionships l
Maybe if Marte can do better at teh Major League level, then I'd move him over to SS if Furcal can't/won't sign. Keep Chipper at 3rd and Johnson in Left.
Marte doesn't have the range to cover Shortstop for us. If it goes to anyone it will be Betemit, maybe Pete Orr..
I really can't wait to see this kid Yunel Escobar in the majors..suppost to be the real deal..wow, just can't wait.
