J. Jones Lands in Marlins' System

OF Jacque Jones, cut by the Tigers two weeks ago, reached a minor league deal with the Marlins yesterday and is expected to soon become their starting center fielder.

Jones will first report to extended spring training in Jupiter, Fla.

In his 10th major league season, Jones hit .165 with one homer and five RBI in 24 games for Detroit. He was in a 1-for-26 slump when the Tigers designated him for assignment May 5. He is a career .278 hitter with 165 home runs.

Marlins center fielders are next-to-last in the majors with a .216 average. They have combined for three homers and 14 RBI.

Alfredo Am¿zaga has been the Marlins primary starter in center, but he's batting only .228.

¿ A-ROD READY: Alex Rodriguez is set to rejoin the slumping Yankees tonight after finishing his rehabilitation of a strained right quadriceps.

"I'm excited to get back into Yankee Stadium and playing baseball. It's where I belong," Rodriguez said after going 2 for 6 in an extended spring training game yesterday.

Rodriguez, sidelined since April 28, doubled and singled in six at-bats against Philadelphia minor league RHP Reginal Simon. He also reached on error, struck out and flied out twice, making him 3 for 10 with a homer in two extended spring training games. . . .

Thurman Munson's World Series rings, MVP trophy and the uniform that the former Yankees catcher wore for his final home game before he died in a 1979 plane crash will be auctioned off in connection with this summer's All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium.

Also part of the July 14-15 auction are Lou Gehrig's warmup jacket dating to the final game of his streak of playing 2,130 consecutive games, the ball from Babe Ruth's 712th home run and a bat used in a game by Jackie Robinson.

¿ BLALOCK GETTING CLOSE: Hank Blalock began an extended spring training assignment for Texas without any trouble, bringing him one step closer to returning to the Rangers' lineup.

Blalock went 2 for 4 with a double in five innings in Surprise, Ariz.

-- From News Services