Jones, Braves Agree to $90-Million Deal

Finally announcing a deal that had been rumored for weeks, Chipper Jones and the Atlanta Braves agreed Thursday on a six-year contract said to be worth $90 million.

Jones, 28, had been eligible to become a free agent after this season. He has played his entire career in Atlanta after being selected by the Braves with the first pick of the 1990 amateur draft.

“Having been born in this organization and grown up in this organization, this is the only organization I know,” Jones said. “I would certainly love nothing more than to start my career here and finish here.”

The deal, which includes two club options that could make it worth $120 million for eight seasons, would be the fourth-richest package in baseball, trailing only Cincinnati Red outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. ($116.5 million for nine years) Dodger pitcher Kevin Brown ($105 million for seven years) and New York Met catcher Mike Piazza ($91 million for seven years).

Neither Jones nor the Braves would confirm the financial terms of the contract.

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The Houston Astros placed pitcher Jay Powell on the disabled list because of inflammation in his right shoulder and planned to recall right-hander Jason Green from triple-A New Orleans. . . . New York Yankee second baseman Chuck Knoblauch said his sore right elbow is showing signs of improvement. An MRI in early August confirmed an earlier diagnosis that Knoblauch has tendinitis and inflammation in the elbow. He is eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list today. . . . Yankee outfielder Darryl Strawberry was released from Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center on Wednesday, nine days after a second round of surgery for cancer. . . . The players’ association filed a default notice against the Kansas City Royals for failing to give Carlos Beltran, last year’s American League rookie of the year, a full paycheck, and the grievance was scheduled to be heard starting Wednesday. The union filed a grievance last Friday, a day after Beltran was suspended without pay for refusing to report to the Royals’ Florida training complex for rehabilitation. The team said the suspension would last for 30 days or until he reports, whichever is shorter. . . . The Minnesota Twins will learn Tuesday whether they have the go-ahead from the Metrodome to play some games outdoors next month. The proposal is designed to generate public support for a new outdoor ballpark for the Twins.

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Top Salaries

Highest average yearly salaries in baseball:

Kevin Brown, Dodgers: 1999-05; $15 million

Chipper Jones, Atlanta: 2000-06; $15 million

Shawn Green, Dodgers: 2000-05; $14 million

Mo Vaughn, Angels: 1999-04; $13.3 million

Randy Johnson, Arizona: 1999-02; $13.1 million

Mike Piazza, N.Y. Mets: 1999-05; $13 million

Albert Belle, Baltimore: 1999-03; $13 million

Ken Griffey Jr., Cincinnati: 2000-09; $12.94 million

Pedro Martinez, Boston: 1998-03; $12.5 million

Bernie Williams, N.Y. Yankees: 1999-05; $12.5 million

Larry Walker, Colorado: 2000-05; $12.5 million

David Cone, N.Y. Yankees: 2000; $12 million

Carlos Delgado, Toronto: 2000-02; $12 million

Greg Maddux, Atlanta: 1998-02; $11.5 million

Barry Bonds, San Francisco: 1999-00; $11.45 million

Gary Sheffield, Dodgers: 1998-03; $11.42 million