ATLANTA -- Chipper Jones understands the financial aspects of baseball and that his large contract could prohibit the Braves from making some necessary moves to ensure success in the coming years.

Thus Jones announced on Wednesday at Turner Field that he'd be willing to discuss reworking his contract if the Braves made this request.

"I make no bones about it," Jones said. "I love playing here. My family is here. I've made sacrifices in the past, and I'm sure there will come a point where I'll have to make a sacrifice again.

"I've made my money. I want to win and I want to continue to keep this team competitive as long as I play here. If I have to make sacrifices here and there so that we can bring guys in or keep guys, I'm open to it."

Jones wasn't specifying a reason to make these possible adjustments. But he'd certainly be inclined to further pursue the possibility if he knew it would help keep Tim Hudson in Atlanta past the 2005 season.

Hudson, who was acquired from the A's on Dec. 16, is eligible for free agency at the end of this season and has expressed a desire to continue playing for a Braves organization that he followed as a youth, growing up just 90 miles south of Atlanta.

Chipper Jones  /   3B
		Born: 04/24/72 Height: 6'4" Weight: 210 lbs Bats: S / Throws: R More info: Player page Stats | Splits Gallery Team Site | Shop

Before being traded by the A's, Hudson had set a March 1 deadline for a contract extension. He has said he'd actually like to get a deal done before Spring Training begins in two weeks.

While a deal hasn't been reached, the Braves are very interested in signing Hudson to a long-term deal. This was expressed by both Braves general manager John Schuerholz and manager Bobby Cox when the 29-year-old right-hander was introduced to the Atlanta media in December.

Jones will make $15 million this season and $17 million in 2006. His contract includes options for both the 2007 and 2008 seasons in which he'd be paid $15 million. Those options vest if he makes 450 plate appearances or makes the All-Star team the previous season.

The contract, which was signed in August 2000, less than one year after Jones claimed NL MVP honors, also includes a bonus. If the club option is exercised in both 2007 and 2008, then Jones would also receive a $5 million bonus. In other words, he could be owed $67 million over the next four seasons.

With 450 plate appearances being easily attainable, there's little chance, minus a serious injury, that he won't be granted both option seasons. Thus he says there's a chance he could change some of those numbers or possibly allow the Braves to defer some of the contract's money.