Baltimore Orioles: Five potential landing spots for Adam Jones in 2019
As Baltimore Orioles CF Adam Jones gets ready to enter free agency, one has to wonder where he will end up signing. Here are a few potential landing spots.
It’s safe to say 2018 has been a tumultuous year for the Baltimore Orioles. After making the playoffs in 2012, 2014, and 2016, the O’s were hoping their even-year luck would continue. It didn’t. With a win percentage of .289, Baltimore is dead last in the MLB, and are suffering through the worst season in the Orioles’ 117-year history. Tuesday’s 6-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays marked Baltimore’s 108th loss, setting a franchise record for most L’s taken in a single season — and there are still 10 games left on the schedule.
As the Orioles are a division rival to my favourite team, I haven’t felt too much pity watching them scuffle this year. However, I do have sympathy for Adam Jones, who’s spent 11 years as the face of the O’s and is in the midst of the most difficult year of his career. Not only has Jones lost a bunch of his longtime teammates — Manny Machado, Zach Britton, Jonathan Schoop and Kevin Gausman were all dealt in the span of a month — but he also faced heavy criticism for exercising his 10-5 rights in July, which blocked the Orioles from trading him to the Philadelphia Phillies at the deadline.
Unfortunately, things have only worsened as the O’s went 8-20 in August and Jones was moved from center field — where he’s solely played since arriving in Baltimore in 2008 — to right field to make way for rookie Cedric Mullins. He has hardly even played at all recently, and at this point Jones must be anxious to turn a new leaf as he’s set to become a free agent this winter for the first time in his career.
Although Jones decided to stay in Baltimore for the final year of his contract, there is no doubt he’ll be playing for a different team next season. Unfortunately for Jones, he’ll head into free agency coming off his worst season in a decade — he’s hitting .283 with just 15 home runs and 58 RBI — and at 33 years old it’s worth wondering how lucrative of a contract he’ll be able to fetch in a free agent market that was stingier than ever last offseason. However, Jones still swings an above-average bat and provides a highly desirable intangible in veteran leadership, therefore it won’t be long before he’s approached by potential suitors.
Continue reading as I highlight five potential landing spots for Adam Jones in 2019.
Team #1: Cleveland Indians
Although this list isn’t in particular order, if you asked me what team I think Adam Jones is most likely to sign with, I would say the Cleveland Indians.
The current Indians’ squad is in the midst of their figurative championship window — the core of Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez, Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer and Carlos Carrasco are all either in or near their prime — therefore they’re in an ideal spot to make a free agent splurge on a reliable offensive outfielder like Jones. There were rumors linking Jones to the Tribe at this year’s deadline, but those were quickly dismissed when the vet exercised his no-trade clause. Instead, the Indians had to settle on acquiring Leonys Martin and Melky Cabrera to fortify the outfield, although neither provide the offensive boost Jones would have.
After missing out on Jones in July, I think Cleveland will be aggressive in pursuing him this offseason as current right fielder Michael Brantley is an impending free agent, as are depth OFers Rajai Davis, Brandon Guyer, and Lonnie Chisenhall. This leaves an even greater need for the Tribe to shop for outfielders this winter, and Jones could swiftly replace Brantley in right field.
The Indians might also prefer to sign Adam Jones and not bring back Brantley because of the two’s opposing injury history. Brantley only managed to play 101 games over the last two seasons due to injury, and has undergone both shoulder and ankle surgery since 2015. Meanwhile, Jones has been relatively healthy his entire career; the last (and only) time he was placed on the disabled list took place in 2009, and since then he’s played over 145 games/season in all but one of his 13 years in the Majors.
Since Cleveland is in the worst division in baseball history, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if they make it back to the postseason in 2019. Signing Jones would give the Tribe the extra push they need to go from World Series hopeful to legitimate contender, as the Brad Hand and Josh Donaldson acquisitions have done this year.
Team #2: Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies were on the verge of landing Jones at this past trade deadline, but when the trade was vetoed they had to settle for Jose Bautista instead. Surely the Phils would have preferred to get Jones rather than Joey Bats — who’s hitting .188 with 1 RBI in 32 at-bats since he was acquired — and they’ll have a chance to do so this upcoming offseason.
While signing Jones would be a big move for any club, the Phillies might be going after the biggest fish in this year’s free agency pond. The Phils’ payroll this season was in the bottom-third of the league at $104 million, but that could potentially double next year if the team decides to finally cash in on the $5 billion TV rights contract they have with Comcast. Philly has been linked with impending free agents Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, and recent reports suggest the club could sign BOTH to lucrative long-term deals this winter.
Phillies fans would surely be thrilled if Bryce and Manny end up in the City of Brotherly Love, but if the front office doesn’t manage to snag Harper then signing Jones would be a fine backup plan. While Philly has enjoyed a good (or bad?) year — they’re 77-73 and 6 games back in the division — they definitely need to improve their 22nd-best offense if they want to contend in 2019.
The Phils have had especially terrible production from the position Jones would likely play. Phillies right fielders this year have hit .205 with 179 strikeouts, both the 3rd-worst totals in the league. Penciling in Jones as Philly’s everyday right fielder will certainly improve their offensive output, and since Citizens Bank Park is one of the least spacious venues in baseball Jones’ diminishing range won’t be as evident.
Team #3: Atlanta Braves
Like the Phillies, the Atlanta Braves are a team that could make some big moves this offseason due to their low payroll and desire to contend. Having little expectations heading into this season, the Braves lead the National League East with an 84-68 record primarily because the young core has been stellar, thus accelerating the rebuild. Atlanta is 3rd in the senior circuit in runs, 2nd in batting average, and 4th in OPS, illustrating how good their bats have been this year.
The Braves have one of the best outfields in the NL with Ronald Acuna Jr., Nick Markakis, and Ender Inciarte, but that trio could change next year as Markakis is an impending free agent. In the event that Atlanta chooses to part ways with the All-Star heading into his age-35 season, Markakis could be supplanted by his former Orioles teammate in Jones. While Markakis has had a much better season than Jones, the two have very comparable career lines while Jones is more proficient in home runs than Markakis. The Braves rank 7th in the NL in home runs this year, which is lacking compared to their other offensive numbers, therefore swapping Markakis with Jones would provide a boost in the long ball department at hitter-friendly SunTrust Park.
Aside from his on-field impact, Jones’ veteran presence could also be intriguing to the Braves, who have one of the youngest rosters in the Majors. Jones has a reputation of being a good clubhouse leader, and could be a good mentor for the likes of Acuna Jr., Dansby Swanson, and Ozzie Albies among other young Braves position players.
Let’s not forgot the Braves have Adam Duvall as the team’s fourth outfielder. Atlanta could rotate Jones, Inciarte, and Duvall in the corner outfield spots based on matchups, giving the outfielders (and the aging Jones in particular) more rest from the heavy Atlanta heat.
Team #4: Seattle Mariners
Could we see Adam Jones move to the opposite coast and sign with the Seattle Mariners this winter? The M’s had a strong start to the season, going 53-31 through June, but have fizzled in the last two months of the season, essentially falling out of playoff contention as they sit 7 games back of the second Wild Card.
Seattle’s second-half woes have primarily stemmed from a slumping offense. Since the All-Star break, the Mariners have scored the second-fewest runs in the American League, and rank in the bottom five in almost every offensive stat. Reuniting with Jones, who was drafted by the M’s in 2003, would add a reliable middle of the order bat and make Seattle’s intimidating lineup even more potent.
The Mariners and Jones are a good fit because it would clear up the team’s currently messy outfield situation. Aside from All-Star Mitch Haniger, the M’s have had a turnstile of players roam the outfield including Dee Gordon (who’s actually an infielder), Denard Span, Guillermo Heredia, Cameron Maybin and Ben Gamel. Jones is the starting outfielder with a plus bat the Mariners have been looking for all season, and since Haniger mostly plays RF Jones could return to his old stomping grounds in center field.
Jones’ mantra of being a good clubhouse guy would also be beneficial for the M’s, who could especially use some internal guidance after the locker room turned into a Royal Rumble before a game earlier this month. It might be tough to squeeze Jones onto the Mariners’ payroll, as they have the 3rd-most money committed to 2019, but it could be worth it — Seattle’s core is declining, and they may potentially look to add Jones on a short-term deal in a last-ditch effort to end the franchise’s 17-year playoff drought before the band breaks apart.
Team #5: Cincinnati Reds
For the fifth and final team I decided to go off the grid and not pick a team that has expectations to contend next season. The Cincinnati Reds haven’t had a winning record since 2013, but could get a step closer to relevancy by adding Adam Jones. Why did I pick Cincinnati as a potential free agent destination, you ask?
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The Reds could be a good fit for Jones for several reasons. Prior to the All-Star break, Cincy was 3rd in the NL in runs, 2nd in hits, and 3rd in runs batted in, but have fallen to the bottom of the league in the second half. Jones would be welcomed with open arms as part of the Reds’ high ceiling offense, and could especially thrive in Great American Ball Park, the friendliest venue to right-handed hitters in the Majors.
Jones would also fill the Reds’ current gap in the outfield, as Cincinnati right fielders are hitting .221 this season, while left fielder Scott Schebler has spent a bulk of the second-half on the DL sprained right shoulder that has caused him to experience ‘throwing issues’.
Additionally, the presence of speedy Billy Hamilton will take off some pressure in the field for Jones, whose loss in range will be compensated by playing beside one of the league’s best defensive center fielders.
Honorable mentions: Chicago White Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks, Texas Rangers
dark. Next. Orioles had chance to extend Machado
In the end, it’s tough to predict where Adam Jones will sign in the offseason. There’s even a chance he returns to the Baltimore Orioles, where he has dedicated countless hours and dollars towards improving the community. I believe Jones will go somewhere else, however, and likely on a 2-3 year deal with a team looking to contend in the short-term. He may want to stay in the AL, where he could be slotted in as designated hitter more often, but there appears to be more National League teams that have a payroll and contention window better equipped to take on Jones.