Longtime Orioles center fielder Adam Jones was among many 30-somethings who went through a difficult winter in free agency prior to this season. Even though he’s a five-time All-Star and a highly respected veteran leader, Jones had to wait until March to land a contract. He wound up joining the Diamondbacks on a $3MM guarantee, and though the 34-year-old Jones hasn’t logged great (or even average) production since then, the soon-to-be free agent doesn’t seem interested in calling it a career.
As part of a piece that’s worth reading in full, Jones told Zach Buchanan of The Athletic (subscription required) that he’s “perfectly OK” with playing less than he used to, when he was good for 145-plus games on a near-annual basis from 2010-18. Jones’ wins above replacement total in those days tended to range from two to four, but the current version simply isn’t that player anymore.
Jones has essentially been a replacement-level performer this year, according to both FanGraphs (0.2) and Baseball Reference (0.0), having hit .267/.316/.427 with 14 home runs in 454 plate appearances. Jones’ wRC+ (89) is his worst since 2008, his first full season, though he has improved as a defender since moving from center field to his new home in right this year. With minus-1 Defensive Runs Saved and a minus-0.2 Ultimate Zone Rating, the four-time Gold Glove winner has been close to a neutral defender this season – not the overwhelmingly minus fielder he was during his closing years in Baltimore.
Although Jones hasn’t been a defensive albatross this year, he still may have trouble securing a guaranteed contract in the offseason. He had substantial difficulty last year on the heels of a better offensive season, after all. Regardless, having earned just under $100MM in the game (per B-Ref), Jones “figures he can now afford to be picky” when it comes to finding his next deal, Buchanan writes. Jones isn’t closing the door on his Arizona tenure, though, telling Buchanan, “Here would be a great place” to continue his career. Jones believes he’s still capable of being “very, very productive in this game for a few more years,” so it doesn’t seem retirement is on his mind at this point.
I see no reason why he can’t continue playing so long as he is reasonable with the payroll. No one is going to be willing to pay him a ton, and I think I rebuilding team could use his talents while they wait for the farm to reload. No doubt. Is no superstar, but he’s a good player to have on many teams. Maybe going back to the O’s makes sense… idk
Ooooh, I didn’t think about Baltimore. The Orioles might be deciding between bringing back either Jones or Markakis. Who do you love more?! Or both. Or neither.
Could see him as a fourth outfielder for the Yankees if they move on from Gardner. Just an example. My only concern is how much the ball has inflated his stats. If not for the juiced ball, would he have ten homers?
You’d want yet another right handed corner outfielder?
He’s a Sox fan bruh.
I’m a sox fan but I’ll play for the Yankees for a couple mil
@deweybelongsinthehall
Jones had 14 the year before. I don’t see why he wouldn’t have done as good without a “juiced” ball. And a juiced ball doesn’t mean every mlb hitter is going to perform marginally better.
As for the Yanks. I don’t see them bringing in anyone else to be the 4th man when they have Gardner and Tauchman who are the only guys that can back up Hicks in CF. No need to bring in another corner OF..
If he had played for the Yankees this year and had the same # of at bats, he have 20-25 HRs because half his games would have been played in Yankee Stadium, which has given up the 2nd (or 3rd based on recent stats) most HRs in all of MLB this year. While it would be a perfect fit for him, the Yankees don’t need him. Frazier will be there next year and they have plenty of other options like Tauchman who are better and cheaper.
He won’t go back to the Orioles. After he turned down the trade to Philadelphia, I think he and the organization soured on each other. Also, he’s no longer a CF but a corner OF, and if there is one place the O’s don’t need outside help it’s at that position.
I don’t think NM will be going back to Baltimore. My gut says the braves will bring him back next year with the team option. I’d just be a bit surprised if they didn’t. We have talent in the minors, sure. But they will likely need a tad more seasoning… not to mention depth can be pretty important
Correct me if I’m wrong but I believe his wife is a teacher in Atlanta and Thats home.
The only way they resign Kakis is if they trade Ender
salary of wife: 1M
unless they do t care about the money…I guess so
salary of wife: 1M
unless they don’t care about the money…I guess so
Did you mean “salary of wife: < $100k”?
yep. it was there but didn’t post. was <100k. weird
Mariners probably regret trading Adam Jones.
He might get squeezed out, or have to settle for a minor league contract. It will be a tough offseason for mid thirties free agent outfielders.
Nick Markakis, Alex Gordon, and Brett Gardner are all slated for free agency as 36 year old outfielders. Gardner is having the best year, I can envision the other two struggling to get a contract. This is almost certainly the last year of Curtis Granderson.
I remember a decade or so ago, Luis Gonzalez and Steve Finley lobbying for jobs well into their 40s. I also remember being disappointed that Sheffield and Lofton retired at age 40 when they surely could have continued. Those days are over.
I’m almost certain that Dayton Moore will get a deal done with Alex Gordon, probably a one-year deal, but I’d be shocked if he didn’t sign early to stay in KC
I don’t follow the Royals, but I can see Alex Gordon not being worth it. That said, I just checked the Royals’ stats, and yeah, Gordon seems to be their best outfielder, so yeah, you’re probably right.
I’d be surprised if Markakis didn’t find a job. He’d upgrade almost every single team in the league.
JDGoat: Markakis would upgrade any team in the league? I am not as high on him as you. Are you giving him credit for clubhouse leadership? I want Markakis to sign with a mind toward maximum playing time. I no longer think he has a chance at 3000 hits, but I want to see how high he can go.
Outside of the Dodgers I can’t think of a team off the top of my head. He’d be one of the better bench options in the league if he wanted to chase a ring on a good team, or else would be a starter on about half of the leagues teams.
The Padres are very unlikely to sign Markakis, or any outfielders to be honest. However, an argument can definitely be made that Markakis would be an upgrade over Wil Myers. But, SD will defintely not cut Myers and add Markakis. I am a Padres fan and I wouldn’t like that. I do have faith that Myers can turn it around.
Markakis will re-sign with Atlanta.
I don’t think Markakis could crack the starting OF of Houston, Boston or New York when healthy. Probably other teams included.
Jones would be a pretty good platoon partner with the guys you mentioned. Markakis and Jones for 2 million each. Teams could do worse.
I wouldn’t say those days are over. If you are productive you’ll find work. If you are a replacement level player but want paid as if you were in your prime you’ll have difficulty.
I mean the days of players stringing together several years into their 40s are over. Lofton and Sheffield played their last year at age 40 and almost certainly could have continued. I remember a game in 2007 when the Mets started 4 guys in their 40s: Conine, Alomar Jr., Glavine, and Alou. Didn’t the Giants one year have 3 OFs in their 40s? Alou, Bonds, Finley.
This year, the only position player in his 40s was Ichiro, and his presence was entirely symbolic. Next year we will have Pujols and Nelson Cruz, two guys who barely play defense. Maybe Eric Kratz can crack a roster.
peds can really help you stick around a bit longer.
Yup. Especially Human Growth Hormone. Oh well.
Gradner is a 3rd OF at best at this point
Gardner is a 3rd OF? So, the worst of a team’s 3 starters? I guess, but I have never heard anyone say “3rd OF” before. He has a 3.2 WAR, an OPS+ of 112, and a chance at 20 homers.
Without looking it up, I would say that in 2018, he has got to be a top 60 OF performer, which would make him a 2nd OF, right? He still can pass in CF.
Jones can go to a great team as a veteran bench presence for $1M plus incentives or he can go to a team that won’t be in contention but could use his bat and popular veteran name for like $5MM. If he knows he probably won’t make bank again, I’d guess he tries to sign with a marquee contender in a cheap bench role. Someone would take him for less than $5M for sure.
Markakis and Gordon both have hefty buyouts relative to the cost of their options vs what they might get on the open market and there’s loyalty between the respective players and teams. I think ATL picks up Markakis’ option and Alex Gordon seems like another guy destined to re-up with his current club for money similar to what his option is. Gardner is a Yankee Lifer, probably wants to keep it that way. and doesn’t seem purely motivated by money. He may retire if they win the WS this year and if he re-up’s they’ll need him less but he’ll very arguably be worth and it’d truly be an insult to pay him less for the kind of production he’s given this season, even with IL stints.
WAR differs by position, but its basically 1 WAR = $7M for a position player that is everyday or a regular, so as a heavily used 4th outfielder, like Gardner., lets says it’s $5.25M per WAR. The Yankees have a lot of guys to take care of this off season but they also have a couple of expenses coming off the books, like CC (and it’s $10M per 1 WAR for Starting Pitchers, etc.) Gardner is having a very good year even in within the frame of his overall career and even if you discount the power surge. I keep hearing from commentators and in articles he wound up underpaid at $7.5M and he’s proven reasonably clutch in the field and in the batter’s box. Even if I think he’s not primarily money driven, particularly at this point in his career, I think the Yankees love him and he’s a career Yankee at this point and probably hopes to keep it that way. Ideally, I’d love to see the Yanks re-sign him on a 1 year/$18.5M deal, as that would total his arbitration and FA compensation to 6 yrs/$78M, pushing his AAV back up to $13M, given that they paid him $9.5M instead of $12M and are getting WAR estimated $25M worth of production
I didn’t think about their buyouts:
Markakis: 6mm option, or 2mm buyout. Yeah, maybe the Braves pick it up.
Gordon: 23mm option, or 4 mm buyout.
hmmm, Gordon’s seems really tough. So, it really is a 19mm decision. Outside of sentimentality and “veteran presence,” I can’t see Gordon being worth that much money. Does Gordon really “deserve” it after “all he has done for the franchise”? I think that the Royals did well by Gordon by giving him so much playing time during the course of his very subpar 4 year extension.
I think Gordon is similar to Jones, in that he knows he’s probably past his money making prime and he’s made plenty. If it’s about stats and opportunities to contend and to cement his legacy, I think he re-signs with the Royals for 1 year/$6M or something. Even at $10M total, it’s a $13M savings for the Royals- not unlike what NYY did for Gardner or similar to Markakis re-signing for half his rate with the Braves.
With all due respect to a good veteran ballplayer,I think that the Royals would be giving Gordon plenty of respect just by giving him $4M just to retire.
He is in no way worth anywhere close to the $19M difference.
This is not rocket science.
They have to cut the cord sometime.
Keep dreaming. Yanks won’t win the World Series. Don’t have the pitching.
A couple of those guys were also suspected/known PED users, which helps extend careers.
Sheffield was using…
Good luck Adam Jones, I think you’re a better bass guitarist than a baseball player though.
I have always enjoyed seeing Mr.Jones play baseball and that’s as Red Sox fan.
He probably won’t be playing next year. A replacement level 34 year old versus a rookie with potential? Which would you go with?
I propose bringing back a AAA league like they used to have before they were owned by the major league teams and became mere feeders. Back then (not sure the last time it was like this) AAA rosters were made up of a lot of former major leaguers who were still good but no longer fit of MLB rosters. That league would be fun to watch and would prolong the careers of real baseball players.
You mean like the Pacific Coast League of old? We pretty much already have that. The independent leagues. Those leagues do very often employ established MLBers trying to crawl back to the bigs. And the indy leagues are very amenable to allowing their players to be signed to the majors.
They aren’t higher profile because market forces do not allow it. The indy leagues just aren’t that popular.
Plus those leagues were in the times of eight team major leagues when baseball was king and when there were almost too many good players.
Such is not the case today with orther sports sucking good athletes away and so many teams,and so many injuries.
Honestly it comes down to money. The kind of class act that Adam Jones is, and his seeming attitude of “Being a 4th OF beats golfing every other day any day of the week,” if he’d take like $1.1 mil plus incentive bonuses (centered around home run totals or something as opposed to plate appearance totals), then the Dodgers (JDGoat) are the only team for which that $1.1 mil wouldn’t be useful (even though they are ten bajillion dollars over the luxury tax threshold for the 15th consecutive year and are keeping a guy hitting .407 through 220 PA in AAA, so maybe the smog in LA that Friedman chokes on could get Jones a contract there, but that’s a discussion for another time).
As a Red Sox fan, I’d love it if they non-tendered Jackie Bradley (don’t argue this with me I wanted him traded for Joey Gallo straight up 4 years ago; if you’re going to hit .210 you might as well hit 40 dingers, and then Gallo this year learned how to hit .270 and plays half of his games in CF) and signed Adam Jones. This is assuming that the Sox give Mookie an extension and ditch Porcello (or give him 2 yr/$6 mil to see if he can be a reliever). Whether or not JD opts out shouldn’t matter.
Also, it’d help if that balding midget with the bad knees whose due $13 mil through 2021 would just retire so that the Sox weren’t contractually obligated to pay him anymore ($13.75 mil luxury tax money; he came to bat like 10 times; not even Barry Bonds is worth $1.375 mil/PA), but that’s a pipe dream at this point.
I think that MLB contracts cannot have incentives regarding stats beyond playing time. Otherwise, players will be changing their approach at the plate, i.e. trying to hit a homer every time, which might not be optimal.
Fair. Well some sort of incentive beyond “If you bat 500 times” because that’d only happen if the OF he’s in has as many injuries as the Yankees’ entire roster plus a couple freak accidents (Brock Holt’s son, Trevor Bauer’s drones, things like that). Also if he gets to 480 ABs and he’s hitting .220 he’d just get released which isn’t fair to Mr Jones. Example, another $100K if you hit .280, $150K if your OBP is .340, something like that.
“Major League Baseball’s Basic Agreement prohibits incentives from being awarded based on statistical achievement. Thus, playing time is the near-universal means by which players receive incentives.”
m.mlb.com/glossary/transactions/incentive-clause
‘Balding midget?’ Really?
I know that he’s injured and will probably never play again, but his contract isn’t the biggest reason for Boston’s payroll problems, The guy won an MVP, and gave everything he had on every play even when he was on league minimum. He’s earned his money
If you really are a Red Sox fan, then show Pedey some respect.
If you’re going to hit .210, then you need to be an exceptional defender and good on the base path. Jackie Bradley’s defense is exceptional and he prevents runs with his play in CF. He still has potential to return to 2016 where he had 94R-26HR-87RBI-271 TB.
DD pays no attention to RP or D so you will get your wish with the direction of having a DH at every position.
You insult Pedroia, a man who gave everything he had on and off the field, and think JBJ is only a .210 hitter and you call yourself a Sox fan?
Its telling of his attitude that he is deciding he’s going to keep playing. Reality check…Jones barely got a job last year and the fact is this has been his worst year in a decade.
@coldbeer
What’s “telling”? He still wants to play and it’s obviously not for the money. Off of OPS alone he was a top 75 outfielder and a good clubhouse guy. So long as he is cheap he’ll find a job with no problem.
If the Angels don’t bring back Calhoun and elect to go with Adell next year, Jones would be a nice insurance. Cost effective all around.
KC, Balt, Detroit, Miami all fits for Adam Jones. They will look for a RH 4th OF bat and Jones will be looking to finish his season before October.
DET, KCR and BAL are rebuilding and seeking youth. Perhaps MIA, TEX or PIT; its too early to predict.
It is very easy to predict; Adam Jones will sign with a loser because he is a loser.
@WereAllJustGuestsHere
Yeah…a “loser” likely worth $100 mil more than any of us who spent the last 15 years playing the game he loves. Imagine….retiring at age 40 with millions in the bank and a good 40-50 years left to enjoy your earnings.
I’ll always remember Jones for his greatness in the WBC. He was so huge with the glove and bat to help bring home the championship.
Can’t see any rebuilding or soon to be contending team wanting these older players. They cost too much and keep younger, cheaper and better guys from developing.. No of, dh, or 1b on the Orioles , except Chris Davis, makes even one million a year. Why would the team want to take away at bats from young guys and pay $3 million to Adam Jones? They have a backlog of corner of guys and minor league talent to bring up soon..The Os currently play, Mancini, Stewart, Santander or Wilkerson in rf.
Because the younger players need veterans to teach them how to prepare for games, how to play professionally in games and how to act off the field. A $2M – $3M contract is well worth it for a player of Jones’ stature and professionalism. Even if he only gets 250 – 300 plate appearances, he will have a positive overall impact on any club he joins.
This is the way that good teams have done it for many many years.
Even if the veteran is not a leader because he is new he can still help the young players and the team in this regard.
It is clear that these older players are no longer overpaid.Some would not even lower themselves to only $2-3M per year.But the good teams realize the value in having this type of player,especially on a young team.
The Pirates,for example,were hurt by not having veteran leadership this year in their second half 28 game collapse.
Marlins will sign him
Jones is said to love Korea. He should consider playing their for a year. He would basically be a living legend and it would a unique life experience.
I can’t imagine being a negative WAR player to be that much fun.
Retire
Good luck with that!
Don’t think the veteran presence is a measurable plus factor. The Royals and Orioles had vets and did not do well. Having and playing young good players is the key to doing well in today’s game..
Veteran leadership can be useful but keeps the payroll up and can delay the younger players’ development. The game seems to have made a change in that respect in the last three years,, I doubt that Jones, Gordon , or Markakis will be on a roster in 2021, probably not next year.. Nelson Cruz is an outlier as an older guy but is having a monster season.
Jones will be looking at a MiLB contract this offseason. Looks like a Carlos Gonzalez type of player at this point. Fringe playable.
I disagree with Jones “underperforming.” The guy is batting .270. That’s about average but he’s still producing. I mean he’s not batting above .300 and hitting 40 dingers but doesn’t mean he’s not producing. Either way, if LAA or SF was smart they should sign him for platoon on a 1 year. That is, if he would agree to that.
It’s hard to hear members comments regarding players like Nick Markakas, Alex Gordon and Adam Jones might have to settle for minor league contracts within the
next couple seasons due to their ages.
Stats should be viewed which indicate these type players are still performing at the
level or above that exceed some 40% of the other MLB outfielders.
Why can’t baseball people wait till their numbers fall off the charts before nailing
these players coffins down. People age at far different levels through out life. I have
a 79 year old female friend that’s is a CEO of a major corporation and others nearly
20 years younger living in rest homes.
These three players might be off from their career highs but still show they can give
a lot of bang for a teams bucks.
Len.The point of some posters is older players are more expensive and their teachings skills not as revered as before.
Things change and this view may be accurate.
Many teams are rebuilding and they would rather fill their roster with cheaper young players who will mature when the team gets good again.
The fit has to be just right for the older players now so there is less of a demand for them.Hence less money,hence less desire for them to continue their career.