Should Jim Hendry Call The Dodgers?

It is being reported on Saturday the Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to either trade or release former All-Star outfielder Andruw Jones.

Jones, who was arguably the biggest non-Yankee free agent disappointment of this decade (Jaret Wright, Carl Pavano, etc), signed a two-year, $39 million contract before last year. Jones had injury issues in 2008 and reported to Dodgers camp in March out of shape and 20 pounds overweight.

The fact that the world now knows that Jones will not be a Dodger next season greatly hurts his value—what there was of one—in the trade market. He is due $15 million in 2009 and the free agent class of outfielders is not moving at all; not a single top-tier outfielder has signed yet.

Enter the Chicago Cubs. General Manager Jim Hendry has outfield issues of his own, with a need for a left-handed hitting power bat in right field. While Alfonso Soriano will continue to play left field, center and right are wide open right now.

Rumors are that the Cubs are in cost-cutting mode to free salary space for Milton Bradley, who would become the left-handed bat the Cubs covet. Utility superman Mark DeRosa was traded to the Indians for prospects on New Year's Eve, and rumors have starter Jason Marquis headed to Colorado for reliever Luis Vizcaino next week.

So what would the Cubs want with Anduw Jones? And why?

Here's the deal Hendry should make: underwhelming Kosuke Fukudome, who was courted by the Dodgers last year before signing with the Cubs, for Jones straight up.

Right now, the Cubs have a plethora of players in center field, none of which is an every day player. Fukudome is being moved from right to center, joining Reed Johnson, top prospect Felix Pie, and newly signed Joey Gathright. None of these players excites anyone, except maybe Johnson when he lands head-first into the base of the outfield wall.

Fukudome signed a four-year, $48 million contract last year and was the talk of baseball until the end of May. He was popular enough to sell thousands of white headbands with various things written in Japanese and Cubs logos on them, and he found himself on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

But then came June. And the hits stopped. Fukudome lost his swing, and left his approach at the plate behind. He started swinging at terrible pitches and looked genuinely lost. In August, the man that was barely two months removed from the cover of SI was now on manager Lou Piniella's bench.

So far this offseason, the Cubs have replaced DeRosa with switch-hitting utility player Aaron Miles and backup catcher Henry Blanco with left-handed hitting Paul Bako. If Miles starts at second base and Johnson in center, the Cubs would have Fukudome, Micah Hoffpaiur, Mike Fontenot, either Gathright or Pie, and Bako on their bench. All six of these players bat left-handed.

So what would trading Fukudome for Jones accomplish?

First, it would move money. Fukudome still has three years and $42 million due to him, while Jones has only the one year left on his original contract. If what is being reported about the Dodgers restructuring the contract are true, then Jones is due the $15 million over the next six years, making him suddenly (and significantly) affordable.

Freeing up money by acquiring Jones at an average of $2.5 million over the next six seasons, while only being obligated to have him on the roster for one, might help the Cubs two ways.

One would be freeing up money for a potential deal for San Diego's Jake Peavy. The other would be to clear Fukudome's salary off the books so that affording players eligible for free agency in the near future, like Rich Harden is possible.

Secondly, it would help the Cubs bring in a right-handed bat to either start or come off the bench. If Jones became the starting center fielder, Johnson then moves to the bench.

Thirdly, in the context of Bradley signing with the Cubs next week, it keeps Bradley out of center. There have been rumors that the Cubs might play Bradley, who has played in over 100 games twice since 2004, in center some in 2009. This is a guy who played 20 of 129 games as an outfielder in 2008, the rest as either a DH or pinch hitter.

Finally, Jones would be an intriguing addition the a Cubs roster that has failed to raise the W flag in each of the past two Octobers. Not only does Jones have extensive postseason experience from his days in Atlanta, but a renewed hunger to reclaim his position as one of the top outfielders of his generation might bring back the Andruw that hit 92 home runs between 2005-06.

Jones has been humbled by his experience as a Dodger. No longer would the team that acquires him feel obligated to bat him third or provide special treatment for the ten-time Gold Glove winner. If he were added to a Cubs outfield between Soriano and Bradley, the Cubs could have three potential 30 home run players together.

By moving Fukudome, someone who the media and fans have soured on so much—he's been rumored to be a candidate for a trip to Triple-A Iowa—the Cubs would effectively accomplish a number of their financial goals while adding a player who could make a significant impact in October. And if Jones disappointed, the restructured contract would make it easier to stomach than Fukudome's $11.5 million salary.

Just a thought, but maybe Hendry should call Los Angeles...