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Chipper Jones said he will return to play for the Braves in 2012, ending speculation that the Braves’ 39-year-old third baseman might retire after this season and walk away with a year left on his contract.

“I’m playing next year,” he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Friday. “I still feel like I can go out there and play a good third base and be a threat, at least, at the plate. I’m having a good defensive year and the [batting] average is on the rise.”

Jones is owed $14 million in 2012 in the final year of a three-year, $42 million contract extension, which also includes a $9 million option for 2013 that becomes automatic if he plays in 123 games next season or averages 127 games this season and next. http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blo ... next-year/

I expected this. Chipper is owed too much money for him to turn his back on it.

smh, great what are we going to do with our lineup now? We'll have the same controversy with Heyward next year too, which is going to create tension in the locker room, IDK why he would do that to us.

It's always hard for great players to walk away from the game - in any sport. They always tend to stay 1 year too many rather than reture a year early. Think Jim Brown and Barry Sanders of the NFL are two HOF players who come to mind who walked away still in their prime. Sure it would be better for us financially if Chipper was to retire, but his is playing well when he is not hurt. My biggest concern is him staying healthy and being able to play. I fear we'll be paying a large chunk of that money to him when he's go all kinds of nagging injuries keeping him out of the lineup. And it is not his fault, aas it happens to all of us as we near 40. Your body just starts to have problems, aches and pains, etc..

ATL, I dont think it's really fair to ask "why he would do that to us?" After all, it was the FO who offered him the Contract. They could have offered more money per year and made it for 1 year shorter if they wanted. If someone is going to offer you, me or anyone on this Board $14 mil to play a game we love, not a single person here would say "No". So why would he? It's not like he has a never ending stream of money coming into his bank. And 1 more year of $14 mil just allows him to bank more money to put away for his kids to make sure they are taken care of. And that is a goal for every parent.