Cubs might have interest in Jones for right field
By Bruce Miles
Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted Tuesday, December 13, 2005
All was quiet on the Miguel Tejada front Monday, at least as far as the Cubs were concerned.
The superstar shortstop spent the weekend trying to make nice with the Baltimore Orioles after reportedly saying he wanted to be traded because he was tired of the losing situation there.
The Cubs still need a right fielder. General manager Jim Hendry hasn’t been able to swing a trade — Milton Bradley from the Los Angeles Dodgers seems a dim possibility now — so Hendry may turn to the free-agent market.
One name on Hendry’s radar screen is Jacque Jones, who has spent his seven-year career with the Minnesota Twins. Jones made $5 million this year, and Hendry has had recent exploratory talks with Jones’ agents.
The 30-year-old Jones’ numbers in 2005 were similar to those of Jeromy Burnitz, who played right field for the Cubs. In 142 games with the Twins, Jones batted .249 with 23 home runs, 73 RBI, an on-base percentage of .319 and 120 strikeouts in 523 at-bats.
Burnitz, 36, batted .258 with 24 homers, 87 RBI, an OBP of .322 and 109 strikeouts in 605 at-bats for the Cubs.
The Cubs have liked Jones in the past but never were able to pull off a trade with the Twins.
The Dodgers don’t seem inclined to move Bradley to the Cubs, and multiplayer trades with teams such as Tampa Bay (right fielder Aubrey Huff and shortstop Julio Lugo) and Texas (outfielder Kevin Mench) haven’t taken shape.
In other news, the Cubs will introduce new leadoff man Juan Pierre to the media Wednesday during a Wrigley Field news conference.
The Cubs obtained Pierre last week at the winter meetings in a trade with the Florida Marlins. Hendry gave up pitcher Sergio Mitre and pitching prospects Ricky Nolasco and Renyel Pinto.
