Raul Mondesi (OF), Atl

News: Raul Mondesi said he has agreed to terms with the Atlanta Braves on a one-year contract. Mondesi told The Associated Press that he will earn $1 million, and that the deal includes performance bonuses that could bring the total value up to $1.7 million.

Views: Mondesi, 33, hit .241 with three HR and 15 RBIs in 34 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Anaheim Angels last season, when he was shadowed by off-the-field trouble.

Mondesi began the season with the Pirates, who terminated his contract on May 19 -- just 12 days after he left the team to return to his native Dominican Republic to fight a lawsuit. He became a free agent (which is probably what he really wanted) and signed with Anaheim. The Angels terminated Mondesi's contract after he failed to show up for a rehabilitation appointment following a leg injury -- just 11 days after signing with Anaheim.

A rare good-value signing this off-season (his being a headcase aside), Mondesi should play right field and bat sixth or seventh for the Braves.

According to this quote from the AP, it appears that Mondesi is bound and determined to be a more dedicated player for his new team: "I'll try to think that there's nothing else in life besides my job," he said.

We'll see.

Posted by Jeff Brown: Jan 13, 05 at 3:17 PM
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Comments

1
Ollo on 01/13/2005 04:06 pm
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I guess this means Brian Jordan will be a full time bench player on the Braves.

So scratch Jordan off your draft lists.

2
bones on 01/13/2005 04:13 pm
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good signing!

3
(unregistered) on 01/14/2005 07:14 pm
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If Mondesi has his head on right he will be able to fill a big void on the braves. He will add protection to Chipper Jones and make him that much better. I see Raul hitting 25-30 HR's 100 RBI's and stealing 5-10 bags. His BA will be around .260-.280 but he will have power numbers.

4
so0perspam on 01/14/2005 09:50 pm
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Is not a bad signing by Atlanta, especailly for the 1 million price-tag. IMO Mondesi is a weak RF starter, but I doubt he'll be the worst one in MLB. His 2004 stats were pretty awful, but the reason being the 34 AB's in Anaheim killed him. After he got out of there and had a larger sample of ABs, his #'s returned to career normals.

If he's a starter I predict .270/20 HR/75 RBI/ 15 SB for a full season. Not really that great and would be a fantasy pick pretty late

5
wolvie111 on 01/14/2005 10:40 pm
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This is a pretty good signing by the Braves. Yes he may be a headcase, but the price tag is right and they may get a steal if he is out to prove people wrong.

6
(unregistered) on 01/15/2005 12:34 pm
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Mondesi should produce some decent numbers this year. He is a good RF, not at the top, but good never the less. He will produce good numbers but they will be no where near the numbers put up by the last two RF that have left the ATL. It was tough for Drew to fill Sheff's shoes and it will be just as hard for Mondesi to fill Drew's shoes.