Is Beinfest jonesing for Jones?

As reported by the talented Juan C. Rodriguez of the Sun-Sentinel, ex-Tigers outfielder Jacque Jones could be a player of interest in the Marlins' ongoing search for a reliable and productive center fielder and leadoff hitter while Cameron Maybin matures in the minors.

Jones' numbers were putrid so far this season (.165, 1 homer, 5 rbi) for the sedentary Tigers, but his track record is a successful one. Jones, 33, is a .278/.327/.451 player in 10 seasons. He has hit more than 22 homeruns in a season four times. And as Rodriguez points out: "he has 1,339 at-bats from the top spot in his nine-plus seasons and is a .289 lifetime hitter with a .799 OPS there." He could really give the Fish the leadoff hitter they so desperatley need.

From all those years as Torii Hunter's sidekick in Minnesota to a productive run with the Cubs, Jones has proven to be a solid major league outfielder. And he is a player that Marlins POBO Larry Beinsfest has coveted for a while.

Plus, he's cheap, or cost effective or market corrective, or whatever you want to call him in David Samson-speak after being designated for assignment by Detroit. The Marlins can basically get him for free because the over-zealous Dave Dombrowki has backed himself into a corner, and created a team full of prima donna sluggers. Hence, Jones is the odd man out and the Marlins could be the beneficiary.