Now that the two biggest names in the 2019 MLB Free Agency are signed, the remaining players with post WAR numbers need to be signed.
The surprising number of household names still remaining on the available MLB Free Agency list is staggering.
While some players, like Craig Kimbrel, seem to be ok with sitting out a season if the right offer doesn’t come. Others, like Adam Jones, are ready to play.
According to a Tweet from Ken Rosenthal, Jones is working out in Arizona, just waiting for a team to sign him. The 33-year-old All-Star, Gold Glove, and Silver Slugger winner reportedly looks fit and ready to play.
Free-agent outfielder Adam Jones is in Arizona, working out daily, awaiting the right opportunity. Still a productive player at 33, and also adds value as a leader and mentor. People who have seen him say he looks and feels great.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 1, 2019
Honestly, the fact that Jones is still unsigned as of March 1 is an absolute travesty. Jones is everything that is good about baseball – even before considering his numbers. His career slash is .278/.318/.456. Yes, his home run production was down in 2018, but he legged out 35 doubles – which is the second highest number of doubles in his career.
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At age 33, he is far from being finished in the game. For comparison, these other players are also 33 years old and were free agents who received Major League contracts: Jonathan Lucroy, Josh Donaldson, Mike Fiers, and Adam Ottovino. There are plenty of other players over the age of 33 who signed MLB contracts, like Kurt Suzuki (35), Jed Lowrie (35), Ian Kinsler (37), and Nick Markakis (35). For Jones, age shouldn’t be the reason that he isn’t signed.
There are still teams that need outfielders. One that immediately comes to mind is the Cleveland Indians. There isn’t anyone listed on the 40-man roster that comes close to Jones in terms of leadership and production – even though they are all younger than Jones.
The same goes for the Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, Arizona Diamondbacks, and even the Miami Marlins.
Adam Jones is not only an outstanding professional baseball player, but he is a strong presence in his team’s community. In 2016, he was awarded the Roberto Clemente Award. He has also won the Heart & Hustle Award three times from the Orioles. These awards are given to players who help their communities. Jones said about his awards:
"“It’s pretty cool. I mean, Roberto Clemente, I don’t do this stuff for awards and stuff, I do it to help out kids. And try to make an impact where I can make an impact.”"
As one of a few African-American players in the MLB, Jones serves as a strong role model for children who might not look to baseball as their first choice of sports.
Since most MLB teams are in big cities filled with diverse populations, it is important that the teams in those cities are as diverse as the cities, especially when groups in those cities struggle. Consider what the 1968 Detroit Tigers, especially Willie Horton, did for Detroit during the racial tensions that drove residents to riot. Jones had a similar experience in 2015 with riots happening in the Charm City. During the tumultuous time he said to his fans:
"“We’ve seen good, we’ve seen bad, we’ve seen ugly. … The big message is stay strong, Baltimore. Stay safe. Continue to be the great city that I’ve known to love over the last eight years I’ve been here.”"
Jones is more than just a good ballplayer. He’s a good human having raised and donated money to several organization doing good work in Baltimore during his time with the Orioles.
After peanuts were tossed at Jones during a game at Fenway Park in 2017, he and other African-American players spoke out about injustices that still exist in the game and in their communities. It is horrible that ugly incidents like that continue to happen. Fortunately, Jones was able to draw attention to it so that it could be dealt with appropriately. Not every player could do what Jones did in a situation like that. His fortitude as a player and a human is something the MLB still needs.
It is clear he truly wants to make baseball and the rest of the world better for everyone, but especially for people who might be disenfranchised.
It is a travesty that Jones is unsigned as his ability on the field and his character off the field would make any team better. Several teams should be looking into signing Adam Jones to a Major League contract.