Dodgers thought Andruw Jones was so fat it violated his contract

January 10, 8:22 AMSports ExaminerPaula Duffy

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It is one of those old jokes: How fat was Andruw Jones? So fat, he didn't fit in the Dodgers plans for the future.

Sources told the Los Angeles Times that the club explored legal options to void the centerfielder's contract for violating a clause that allows a player to be terminated if he:

shall at any time fail, refuse or neglect..to keep himself in first-class physical condition or to obey the club's training rules."

Knowing the players' union and Boras would make their lives a living hell, even more so than having to keep Jones and pay him the $18 million he is to receive this season, a smart deal was worked out.

It allows the Dodgers to trade or release him by January 15th in exchange for deferring the compensation over a number of years. That keeps them in the hunt for Boras' other client, Manny Ramirez.

It's a win, win, win. The Dodgers get relief from one of the worst deals they ever made, Jones is free to try and hook up with another team who will play him and Boras continues to negotiate with the Dodgers for Manny.

Jones was signed a year ago for $36.2 million over two years and promptly came into camp overweight. He batted .158 in 75 games, was benched then had surgery for a bad knee. He was replaced more than effectively I would say by Manny Ramirez.

If Boras doesn't find a new home for Jones pretty quickly, you think Nutri-System might like another male, sports star endorser?