Chipper offers to re-structure contract as Hudson’s deadline approaches
As talks about a contract extension heat up between the Braves and Tim Hudson’s agent, Chipper Jones has volunteered to defer, and perhaps reduce, the amounts on some of those checks he’ll receive in the years to come. Chipper is set to make $15 million this season and $17 million the year after. Options (that are automatically vested if he makes 450 plates appearances the prior season; a virtual certainty barring injury) would pay him $15 million in both 2007 and 2008. Plus, if they both vest Jones will receive an additional $5 million bonus. There’s little doubt that this is the big contract that is hamstringing the Braves as they look to secure the foundation of a contending ballclub for years to come.
Hudson’s agent has given the Braves the same March 1st deadline to agree to a contract extension that he gave the A’s before they traded the right-hander. Braves GM John Schuerholz has acknowledged the deadline and intimated that the Braves will have decided whether they have what it takes to sign the star pitcher by that date. Meanwhile, at Camp Leo, Leo Mazzone and Bobby Cox couldn’t say enough good things about Hudson. Mazzone even compared the pitching discussions he had with Hudson to those he has had with Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz.
