ATLANTA -- Two days after being swept by the Yankees in the World Series, the Braves picked up the option on star third baseman Chipper Jones for the 2000 season on Friday.

	Jones

The decision was not a tough one for the Braves as Jones is coming off a season in which he is considered a leading candidate for National League Most Valuable Player honors.

Jones, 27, belted 45 homers in 1999 to set a league record for switch hitters. It was the most homers in a season by a Braves player since all-time home run king Hank Aaron smacked 47 for the Milwaukee Braves in 1961.

Jones, who helped the Braves to their eighth consecutive division title and fifth World Series appearance of the decade, also became the first player in major league history to hit at least .300 (.319) with at least 40 homers, 100 RBI (110), 100 runs scored (116), 40 doubles (41), 20 stolen bases (25) and 100 walks (126).

The Braves locked him up for a relatively bargain basement price of $4 million plus incentives. He will be able to command considerable more when his contract runs out.

Jones, who signed a four-year contract with the Braves in 1996, has a career average of .301 with 153 homers and 524 RBI in six-plus seasons.