Braves’ Jones Goes on DL With Sprains

Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones went on the 15-day disabled list Monday because of a sprained right knee and ankle, but the injuries weren’t as severe as the Braves feared.

Jones was hurt Sunday when he charged in on Mike Matheny’s slow roller in the eighth inning of Atlanta’s 6-5 loss to the San Francisco Giants.

This is the third consecutive season Jones has gone on the DL. The MRI examination on his knee and an X-ray of his ankle showed that each was merely sprained.

“Our doctors say this is an injury that will heal itself,” Atlanta General Manager John Schuerholz said. “It may not take quite as much time as 15 days, but we want to make absolutely certain that he’s completely healthy before he returns.”

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Washington reliever Felix Rodriguez was suspended for three games and National Manager Frank Robinson for one for their roles in last week’s game against the New York Mets in which five batters were hit by pitches.

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National League batting champion Derrek Lee and the Chicago Cubs agreed to a $65-million, five-year contract, a deal expected to be announced today. Lee is making $8 million in the final season of a $22.5-million, three-year deal. His new contract calls for a $13-million annual salary from 2006 to 2010 and contains a no-trade clause, one person familiar with the agreement told the Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity.

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David Ortiz agreed to a four-year contract extension with the Boston Red Sox, a deal that will guarantee him about $52 million. Ortiz could have become a free agent after the 2007 season.

In other Red Sox news, center fielder Coco Crisp has a fracture on the base of his index finger on his left hand and will be sidelined for at least 10 days.