The Los Angeles Dodgers are ready to release Andruw Jones. They will attempt to trade the outfielder for something and if (and when) they find no one is going to give up anything for him will release the slumping star.

The Dodgers will still be on the hook for paying Jones any amount up to $5 million this year but have reached an agreement with the 31-year-old that will allow them to defer $12 million in bonus money.

This could pave the way for Jones to return to the Atlanta Braves, the team in which signed him out of Curacao in 1993. Jones began playing center-field for the Braves in 1996 and spent a total of 12 years with the organization.

With the Braves Jones was a regular for Gold Gloves, MVP votes and All-Star games. He racked up 25 or more home runs from 1998 through his last season with the club in 2007. He topped 100 RBI five times and according to pitcher Tom Glavine saved the team 1.5 runs a game with his sterling play in center.

In 2005 Jones recorded 51 Homers, drove in 128 and despite just a .263 average finished second in MVP voting. It was a career year. He followed it up with 41 homers an 129 RBI in 2006 and then things began to slip.

His last season with the Braves it became clear that Jones had lost a step in the field, his homers dropped to 26 while his batting average fell to .222. The Braves moved him down in the lineup and when the season ended he hit the free agent market.

Despite coming off a down year it was clear someone was going to pay Jones big money and in this case that was the Los Angeles Dodgers who seemed to have a sick fascination with signing former stars of the Braves.

Jones was no different he hit just .158 last season with 3 homers in 209 at-bats for the club. He was booed on the jumbo screen when he wished his mother a Happy Mother’s Day and the team has been trying to find a suitor for him since.

ESPN tried to make a story that the Mets were interested, we later found out the two clubs mentioned Jones for a few seconds in a hallway during the winter meetings.

Jones stated when 2008 ended he was hopeful for a return to Atlanta, where he would be reunited with Bobby Cox and could try to turn his career back on track.

With the news that the Dodgers are set to release Andruw it’s looking more and more probable that the two will be reunited.

I for one can’t see anything wrong with this. Andruw will play for the minimum (since the Dodgers will be paying up to $4.6 million) and Atlanta as much as any team offers him a chance to play everyday. He likely won’t hit 35 homers or drive in 120 runs but if he regains some form he’s a far better option then speedsters Josh Anderson and Gregor Blanco in center.

At worst if Jones does not work out with the club it would only have been a $400k investment.