Chipper Jones

Word has it that Chipper Jones has allowed his contract to be restructured to give the Braves more monetary flexibility. Supposedly, Chipper would take a $6 million cut in 2006 and $4 million cuts in 2007 and 2008. In return the Braves would give him an option for 2009 and a $4 million signing bonus.

I've always liked Chipper Jones and talking about him being with the Braves till 2009 basically means he'll be a Brave for life. In 2009 Chipper will be 37 and it is not unrealistic that could be his final season in MLB. With this new "deal" I started wondering about Chipper as a Hall of Famer.

Let's assume he has some injuries over the next four years and averages just what he did this year (109 games and 358 AB). It's very possible Chippers' final stat line would look something like:

Chipper Jones - 2,245 H/ 1,365 R/ 411 HR/ 1,376 RBI

Those are very conservative estimates but they would put Chipper around 85th on the all-time runs list, about 40th on the alltime HR list and around 67th for RBI. Those numbers would seem close to Jim Rice's production or maybe Larry Walker. Both of those guys have an MVP award just like Chipper but both are borderline for the Hall of Fame.

If you looked at Chipper as a third baseman (even though he's played a lot of outfield and actually came up as a shortstop) would his case be better?

Compared to Wade Boggs - Chipper would trail in hits and runs but be way ahead in HR and RBI. Against a third-bagger like Robin Ventura who is borderline - Chipper would be way ahead in all categories. Even though Chipper doesn't have a Gold Glove like the one Boggs *cough* earned *cough* - I think he was a much better fielder. And again, unlike Boggs, it looks like Chipper will play his career with one team and that does count in the voter's mind (whether they admit it or not).

I find it amusing that Baseball-Reference.com lists Gary Sheffield as the most similar batter by age to Chipper. Can you in your wildest dreams imagine Sheffield restructuring his contract to give his team more flexibility and a better shot at winning? In the end maybe the defining perception of Chipper as a "team" guy who did what it took to win (whether it be changing positions without complaint or restructuring a contract) vs. a Sheffield who dogged it on purpose in Milwaukee so he could be traded will be the edge Chipper needs to get elected to the Hall of Fame.

The question to consider next is what will the Braves do with the $6 million Chipper just freed up for them?