Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Team

Andruw Jones and the Dodgers? One and done. The Dodgers have agreed to trade or release Jones in exchange for his deferring much of the $22 million remaining on his contract, a baseball source said Friday. The deal is expected to shave $12 million from the Dodgers' 2009 payroll and cut Jones' salary next season to about $5 million. If the Dodgers cannot trade him, even at that discounted salary, then Jones can ask for his release before spring training, the source said.

The ninth inning at Dodger Stadium could be Trevor Time this year. As the San Francisco Giants consider trumping the Dodgers' offer to Manny Ramirez, the Dodgers have offered all-time save leader Trevor Hoffman a one-year contract to be their closer. The Milwaukee Brewers also are in pursuit of Hoffman, who is expected to make his decision this week.

The Dodgers considered trying to void Andruw Jones' contract before waiving any possible action as part of his contract restructuring, two high-ranking baseball sources told The Times. The Dodgers agreed last week to trade or release Jones by Jan. 15 in exchange for his deferring much of the $22 million remaining on his contract.

Guillermo Mota has agreed to the terms of one-year contract to rejoin the Dodgers, according to baseball sources who were granted anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the matter. The deal is pending a physical, which is scheduled for today. Mota, a 35-year-old right-hander, pitched for the Dodgers from 2002 to 2004, primarily setting up closer Eric Gagne. He posted a 2.60 earned-run average in his two-plus seasons with the club but was traded to the Florida Marlins in 2004.

Derek Lowe's four-year stint with the Dodgers is about to officially come to an end. The right-hander has agreed to terms with the Atlanta Braves on a four-year, $60-million contract, according to a baseball source who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal is pending a physical. Lowe, 35, anchored an inexperienced rotation last season and was the club's No. 1 pitcher in the playoffs. He was 14-11 with a 3.24 earned-run average. Lowe was 54-48 with a 3.

So, in his final two games, he gave up 11 runs in five innings, ripped by Philadelphia Phillies hitters at the plate, ripped by teammates in the clubhouse, booed by fans everywhere. At least Chad Billingsley was wearing the right shoes. About a month later, in a tiny Pennsylvania town, he stepped out onto his back porch to admire one of the winter's first snowfalls. Wearing sandals.

Vin Scully recently watched the MLB Network replay of the perfect game pitched by Don Larsen for the New York Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1956 World Series. He watched and he listened. He listened to Mel Allen call the first half of the game and then listened to himself, an earnest and eager 28-year-old, call the second half. What did Scully notice about that broadcast? People have asked that a lot since the rebroadcast was aired Jan. 1 on the new MLB Network.

Russell Martin, who rebuffed the Dodgers' overtures about a long-term contract last winter, said Thursday he would like to explore such a deal this winter. "I'm always interested in a long-term deal," Martin said. "Who wouldn't be?" On the day the Dodgers formally released Andruw Jones, owners Frank and Jamie McCourt invited Martin to a private lunch here. Martin, an All-Star in each of the last two years, then joined the McCourts on a media tour of the Dodgers' new spring home.

The way he awkwardly stuck his chubby fingers into his eyes, it could have been old remnants of infield dirt. He would poke in, pull out, flick something to the ground, again and again. It wasn't until Jeff Kent raised his head that everyone realized those eyes were filled not with the tough guy, but the real guy. No dirt, just tears. On his way out the door, the most unbreakable man in the room finally broke.