NASHVILLE — The Dodgers agreed to terms with free-agent center fielder Andruw Jones on a two-year guaranteed contract worth $36.2 million on Wednesday evening, according to multiple baseball sources. The deal is pending a physical.
By acquiring Jones on the night before the winter meetings end, the Dodgers filled two of their off-season needs -- a middle-of-the-order bat and a defensive upgrade in center field.
Jones, 30, hit 26 home runs and drove in 94 runs last season for the Atlanta Braves. He hit at least 25 home runs and won a Gold Glove for the 10th consecutive season.
The Dodgers are expected to move weak-armed Juan Pierre to left field, leaving Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier for right. The surplus of outfielders could make either Kemp or Ethier expendable and the Dodgers are believed to have been asked for Kemp in trade discussions for several available pitchers, including left-hander Erik Bedard of the Baltimore Orioles.
An official for the Oakland Athletics said earlier in the day that the Dodgers weren't considered a viable trade partner for right-handers Dan Haren or Joe Blanton, but the potential availability of Kemp could change that.
Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti said Wednesday the team needs to acquire a starting pitcher this winter.
At the start of the off-season, Jones' agent, Scott Boras, signaled he expected Jones could get a five-year contract worth $100 million.
But no team appeared to come close to such an offer, amid concerns over a .222 batting average that was 41 points below his career average and questions about his long-term conditioning. The two-year deal provides Jones the chance to re-establish his value and re-enter the free-agent market at age 32. Jones is believed to like the idea of hitting behind fleet-footed Rafael Furcal and Juan Pierre, which could allow him to drive in more runs.
The Dodgers get the benefit of financial flexibility via a short-term commitment.
Boras said in an e-mail message earlier Wednesday that he and his client would entertain an offer for a shorter contract than they were initially seeking, so long as it came from "a competitive team."
Boras said he considered every team in the National League West fit that criteria.
The San Francisco Giants were interested in Jones, but not at an $18-million price tag. The Kansas City Royals also had interest. The Chicago White Sox were looking for a center fielder, but Jones wasn't on their radar.
