Los Angeles, CA (My Sportsbook) - The Los Angeles Dodgers made their split with Andruw Jones official Thursday, releasing the outfielder after a disappointing 2008 season.

As a result, Jones becomes a free agent, and about $16 million of the remaining $21.1 million owed on Jones' two-year contract will be deferred over the next six years. Jones signed the deal, which is worth more than $36 million, with LA in December 2007. The Dodgers had tried to trade the outfielder in recent weeks, but the efforts were unsuccessful.

Jones, 31, could sign on with another team, which would be responsible only for the major league minimum salary of $400,000.

Jones spent the first 12 seasons of his career with Atlanta, but at the time of his signing with LA was coming off a 2007 season in which he had already declined. In 154 games for the Braves, he posted the lowest batting average (.222), on-base percentage (.311) and slugging percentage (.413) of any full season of his career -- though he still managed to compile 26 homers and 94 RBI.

However, his 2008 performance with the Dodgers fell well short of expectations, as he batted just .158 in 75 games with three homers, 14 RBI and 76 strikeouts. Jones also battled a knee injury that eventually required surgery.

In 1,836 games over 13 MLB seasons with Atlanta and LA, Jones owns a .259 average with 371 homers and 1,131 RBI. Jones is a 10-time Gold Glove winner and five-time All-Star, and also finished second in NL MVP voting in 2005.