NewsAndruw among Rangers to file
Veteran not expected back after stint in Texas
By T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com
11/06/09 8:46 PM EST
ARLINGTON -- Andruw Jones is a free agent. Jones, who made $36 million over the past two years while hitting .190 with 20 home runs and 57 RBIs in 157 games and 490 at-bats, filed for free agency on Friday. He hit .214 with 17 home runs and 43 RBIs in 82 games and 281 at-bats for the Rangers in 2009. The Rangers do not plan to bring him back in 2010. Jones is a ten-time Gold Glove Award-winning center fielder with the Braves but did not play that position for the Rangers. He started in 12 games in left field, five in right, four at first base and 53 games at designated hitter. This was the first time since his rookie season in 1996 that he did not play center field. Jones, 32, hit .218 with four home runs and 15 RBIs in 119 at-bats against left-handers and .210 with 13 home runs and 28 RBIs in 182 at-bats against right-handers. If he returns in 2010 for any club, it will most likely be as a right-handed designated hitter. Omar Vizquel, who has won 11 Gold Glove Awards as a shortstop, also filed for free agency on Friday, and the Rangers are trying to re-sign him as a utility infielder. Vizquel will be going into his 22nd season in the Major Leagues, but this year was his first as a utility infielder. He made 14 starts at second base, 22 at shortstop and 20 at third base without committing an error. All seven of the Rangers' eligible free agents have filed. On Thursday, pitchers Joaquin Benoit and Eddie Guardado, catcher Ivan Rodriguez, first baseman Hank Blalock and outfielder Marlon Byrd filed.T.R. Sullivan is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
