Braves Sign Raul Mondesi to One-Year Deal

'Believe it, man' - Mondesi determined to prove he's still got game

Many baseball people have already written off Raul Mondesi, and he knows it. The newest Brave is determined to prove they're wrong and show he's not washed up at 33.

"Believe it, man," Mondesi said Friday at Turner Field, where the right fielder met with manager Bobby Cox and Braves officials before signing a one-year, $1 million contract - $12 million less than the former All-Star made two years ago.

"I'm very excited to come back to the National League and play for the Braves. I don't want to say much; I just want to play hard, play to win. ... I've had a few problems the last few years, but all my ability is still there."

The Braves believe at least a good portion of it's there. Otherwise, they wouldn't have pursued Mondesi, an enigma with a reputation as a high-maintenance player who's sometimes disruptive and rarely gets the most from his immense talent.

"We're satisfied he's healthy, and he's now a Brave," general manager John Schuerholz said after Mondesi passed a physical exam and discussed with team officials his past problems and future goals. "We think he'll keep himself strong, mentally and physically.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for him to get his career back on track, and we expect it to benefit him and us."

The Braves will either pursue another affordable veteran to play left field or wait until spring training to see if Ryan Langerhans or another rookie looks ready to handle the position.

"We'll keep our minds open and determine who we think is a better fit," Schuerholz said. "But the fact that we got a veteran guy [Mondesi] with his talent, we feel very good. No matter who we get in left field, we're going to feel very confident opening day."

He's a two-time Gold Glove winner and a .275 career hitter with 267 home runs, 229 stolen bases and 843 RBIs in 12 seasons, but Mondesi fell from the industry's consciousness after last season, when he played 34 games and had his contract terminated by two different teams.

Schuerholz was asked if this were another example of "thinking outside the box," which he's said the Braves have had to do the past two years because of their reduced payroll.

"I think so," he said. "[Mondesi] was not someone who was on anybody's radar screen."

Although his name hadn't been bandied about at the winter meetings or included in hot stove rumors, Schuerholz said Mondesi had been discussed frequently by the Braves, who needed to find an affordable replacement for right fielder J.D. Drew.

Drew used a career-best season with Atlanta to leverage a five-year, $55 million contract from the Dodgers - the same team that once gave a six-year, $60 million deal to Mondesi, the NL Rookie of the Year in 1994 for Los Angeles.

If Mondesi hopes to sniff anything close to that income again, he needs to return to form on the field. The most he can make in 2005 is $1.7 million, including hard-to-reach performance incentives.

After averaging 26 homers, 87 runs, 82 RBIs and 23 stolen bases over 10 full seasons through 2003, he batted just .241 with three homers and 15 RBIs last season for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Anaheim Angels.

He was cut by the Pirates in May after going home to the Dominican Republic to contest a lawsuit, then played eight games for the Angels before they dropped him when he failed to show for an injury-rehab appointment.

"[People] don't understand, when you're having family problems, you have to do something," he said. "It's hard to concentrate."

Mondesi feared for his family's safety after the lawsuit was filed by former major leaguer Mario Guerrero, who claimed Mondesi reneged on a promise to pay him one percent of his future earnings for helping to develop Mondesi's baseball skills as a youth.

Mondesi said his wife and four children, ages 3 to 12, are now safe at their Dominican home, and he's ready to play baseball. He doesn't want to say much more about last year.

"I just want to concentrate and have a great year for the Braves," he said. "I told my agent I wanted to go back to the National League, and play for a good team. This team goes to the playoffs every year. I want to just put it all together and go all the way."