Braves Sign Brian Jordan

Jordan gets second tour of duty with Braves

Four years, one regrettable comment, one knee surgery and a few other injuries since being traded away by the Braves, veteran outfielder Brian Jordan has found his way back to Atlanta. The popular former Brave -- and ex-Falcons defensive back -- signed a one-year, $600,000 contract Wednesday, making him the latest reclamation project to join the budget-conscious Braves and a leading contender for the left field job.

"It feels great to be back and part of the organization again," said Jordan, a Braves standout from 1999-2001 before being dealt to Los Angeles in a trade for Gary Sheffield that Jordan said was like "being stabbed in the back." "That was overblown," said Jordan, who will turn 38 in March and could get some competition for the left field job from youngsters including Ryan Langerhans. "I'm happy to be back. This means an awful lot to me and my family."

Braves general manager John Schuerholz sounds confident that Jordan has finally recovered from July 2003 knee surgery that slowed him for two seasons. "Brian's still a very strong, athletic guy," Schuerholz said. "If he's healthy, we think that body can play. And if Raul Mondesi's personal problems are resolved, as we think they are, we think that body can play, too." Mondesi signed a one-year, $1 million deal last week to play right field for the Braves, who lost free agent right fielder J.D. Drew and traded left fielders Eli Marrero and Charles Thomas this offseason.

Jordan, an Alpharetta resident and father of four, was a fan favorite and clubhouse leader with Atlanta, and an All-Star in 1999 who batted .281 with 65 home runs and 289 RBIs in three seasons for the Braves. But he's since been plagued by injuries, including the left patella tendon that required surgery. After batting .285 with 18 homers and 80 RBIs for the Dodgers in 2002, he totaled just 11 homers and 51 RBIs in 127 games over the past two seasons. "The doctor told me it would take 18 months to get the strength back, but I tried to come back in seven or eight months," said Jordan, who hit a career-worst .222 with five homers and 23 RBIs in 212 at-bats last season for Texas. "I've got plenty left, definitely. It was just a matter of getting my knee back to where I'm comfortable and confident that I can do those things again, as far as playing hard, running hard through the bag, making diving catches."

The knee began improving after the All-Star break, and Jordan contributed down the stretch as the Rangers missed a playoff berth. He hit .270 with two homers and 11 RBIs in September. Now he wants another shot at postseason baseball. In his first tour with the Braves, Jordan had four homers and 22 RBIs in 25 postseason games.
"I want to have the same role -- lead by example, and if I need to speak up, I will," Jordan said. "My goal is to help this team win a champion- ship."

His anger at being traded before the 2002 season was directed at Schuerholz, primarily because the GM had notified him of the trade by phone instead of in person. Schuerholz explained to him that he had to do it that way so that Jordan wouldn't find out about the deal from a media member before they could meet. The two of them talked about the situation Tuesday and put it behind them. "We're real good -- we're cool," the 63-year-old Schuerholz said, smiling after that youthful description of their relationship. "We're happy to have him back."

Just as they did before signing Mondesi last week, the Braves gave Jordan a complete physical examination -- no small task with a player who's been on the disabled list 10 times since first reaching the majors with St. Louis in 1992. His surgically repaired knee, previously repaired shoulders and wrist, and his formerly balky back checked out, Schuerholz said. The Braves determined he's capable of a career resurgence that could provide an affordable boost for them. Jordan's modest contract includes an additional $400,000 in potential performance incentives, and pales in comparison to the $9.1 million salary he made in his last season with the Braves in 2001. Between them, Jordan and Mondesi are guaranteed only $1.6 million in 2005; their combined salaries in 2003 were $22.6 million.

This is a great deal for the Braves. Jordan of 2005 isn't likely to be as good as the J.D. Drew of 2004, certainly, but he's a terrific pickup given the constraints of the Braves' salary structure.