Rangers Reportedly Signed Jones

The New York Post reported Sunday that Texas will sign former Dodgers outfielder Andruw Jones to a minor league deal that will pay him $500,000 if he makes the major league team. He also will have the chance to make $1 million in incentives, according to the Post. The newspaper reported that the deal will be announced later this week.

Jones reportedly turned down an offer from the New York Yankees to compete for an outfield spot. A source told the Post that Jones picked the Rangers so he could work with batting coach Rudy Jaramillo. Texas will pay only $400,000 for Jones's services, the rest of his salary will be paid by Los Angeles.

Signed as the answer to the Dodgers' power-hitting vacancy to a two-year, $36.2 million contract in December 2007, Jones was injured part of last season and was mostly ineffective otherwise, hitting only .158 with three home runs and 14 RBIs in 75 games.

The 31-year-old center fielder reported to spring training overweight, saying his offensive dropoff the season before was because he was "too "light" and he ran out of energy, then was booed roundly by fans as he struggled at the plate during the season. He had knee surgery in May and finished the season on the bench as the Dodgers won the NL West and beat the Cubs in the NL divisional series before losing to Philadelphia in the NL Championship Series.

Jones asked to be traded after that and the Dodgers tried, but found no takers. The Dodgers owe Jones $22.1 million, which he'll receive over the next six years.

Jones came to Los Angeles as a five-time All-Star who had won 10 straight Gold Gloves with Atlanta and as one of 10 players in baseball history to hit 300 homers before the age of 30. He had 342, tying him with Mel Ott and Henry Aaron for the sixth-youngest player to reach that milestone.