Andruw Jones Turned Down the Yankees

Remember how the Dodgers sent Andruw Jones packing? How they decided it'd be addition by subtraction by paying him millions of dollars to leave? And how he embarrassed himself by getting cut by a winter league team?

It seems while all of this was going on, the Yankees were lurking in the background quietly trying to sign him to a minor league deal. As it happens, Jones turned them down -- for now. He's still hoping to find a guaranteed major league offer (OK, we can resume laughing) but if that doesn't happen, there's at least a chance he'll accept New York's offer to show up at spring training and try to win a spot on the roster.

Two thoughts: 1) Jones needs a better PR guy. Seriously, instead of letting him spend the winter being the butt of everyone's jokes, his people should have leaked this offer (which came sometime in the last month) from the start, spinning it as proof that he's in demand. Scott Boras is usually so good at working the press, so it's baffling he let his client dangle like a pinata for so long.

2) it's actually a pretty smart move by New York since a non-guaranteed deal would require Jones to show up to camp in shape and motivated. Of course, the Yankees' outfield is already a bit crowded as it is -- Johnny Damon, Xavier Nady, Nick Swisher, Melky Cabrera are already battling for at-bats, not to mention Brett Gardner -- but if Jones looks like he can bounce back, it shouldn't be too hard for Brian Cashman to thin the herd with a trade.