Ex-Braves player Jones accused of dragging wife down stairs
ATLANTA – The wife of former Atlanta Braves star Andruw Jones accused him of dragging her down a staircase, grabbing her neck and saying he wanted to kill her, according to police records.
A police report obtained by the Associated Press said the fight happened about 1:30 a.m. Christmas Day, after Nicole Jones asked her husband to help her prepare their suburban Atlanta home for Christmas morning.
Andruw Jones was free on bond after his arrest on a battery charge, according to Gwinnett County Jail records. It wasn’t known Wednesday whether he has an attorney.
Nicole Jones told officers she tried to escape upstairs, but her husband grabbed her by the ankle and dragged her down some stairs, got on top of her and said, “I want to kill you,” according to the report.
“Due to Andruw’s level of intoxication, Nicole said that she was able to push him back and move away from him,” the report states. Nicole Jones then went to her parents’ house.
Police said they found injuries on her neck, which they photographed for evidence.
When officers arrived at the Jones residence in the Sugarloaf Country Club in Duluth, they said he appeared confused about what had happened.
The Seattle Mariners have officially announced their $2.75 million, one-year deal with outfielder Raul Ibanez, returning the veteran to where he began his major league career in 1996.
Seattle made the move official Wednesday after clearing a spot on its 40-man roster by designating for assignment right-handed pitcher D.J. Mitchell, who was acquired from the New York Yankees in the trade last July for Ichiro Suzuki.
The deal allows Ibanez to earn an additional $1.25 million in performance bonuses. This will be his third stint with the Mariners, after rejoining them from 2004-08.
The Texas Rangers have completed a one-year contract with free agent catcher A.J. Pierzynski.
Terms of the deal announced Wednesday weren’t released.
The two-time All-Star who was passed over for what would have been his third selection by Rangers manager Ron Washington could be the starter for Texas and figures to see time at designated hitter.
Pierzynski, who turns 36 on Sunday, hit .278 with a career-high 27 home runs in 135 games for the Chicago White Sox last season.
The Rangers lost Mike Napoli in free agency and re-signed Geovany Soto at a reduced salary after he hit .196 in 47 games following a trade with the Chicago Cubs.
To make room for Pierzynski on the 40-man roster, the Rangers designated catcher Luis Martinez for assignment.