Scott Boras on Andruw Jones: He's "just looking for a situation"

Andruw Jones still intends to be an everyday player, his agent said today.

"We're just looking for a situation," Scott Boras said.

The Dodgers agreed last week to trade or release Jones by Jan. 15 in exchange for restructuring his contract, for which he is still owed $22.1 million. Jones' salary will be cut to about $5 million next season and the remainder of the money will be deferred.

In the likely case that Jones is released, another team could sign him and be on the hook for only the major-league minimum of $400,000.

Boras stressed that Jones never demanded to be traded or released from the Dodgers. The idea for him to leave, Boras said, came out of a meeting he had in November with General Manager Ned Colletti and Manager Joe Torre.

Boras said he then relayed the thoughts to Jones.

"Both parties made a decision that it was best for Andruw to get a fresh start somewhere else," Boras said. "We amicably worked out a deal to get this done."

Boras also said he wanted to show the Dodgers his willingness to resolve problems involving his clients.

"They took a big pill here," Boras said of the Dodgers. "It was a positive for both sides, really. ...Andruw felt it was best for him."

Jones hit .158 with three home runs and 14 runs batted in with the Dodgers last season. He didn't hit any better in winter ball, batting .143 (2 for 14) for Aguilas Cibaenas of the Dominican Republic, and reportedly returned to the U.S. over the weekend because his wife became ill.

Of signing Jones, one National League scout said: "You're talking about catching lightning in a bottle."

But the same scout said that because Jones could be signed for the major-league minimum, he shouldn't have problems finding a new job. "Without a doubt, he'll be playing this year," the scout said. "He's still a better-than-average center fielder."

-- Dylan Hernandez

Photo: Andruw Jones while playing for Aguilas Cibaenas last month. Credit: Jose Bueno / EPA