Veteran outfielder Adam Jones may be headed for a late-career stint in Japan. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, via Twitter, Jones is in talks with Nippon Professional Baseball’s Orix Buffaloes on a contract.
Notably, the concept under consideration is a multi-year arrangement. That’s a rarity for players contemplating a westward crossing of the Pacific, though NPB organizations have certainly agreed to multi-year pacts to retain players.
Jones, 34, would become one of the biggest MLB stars to play in Japan if he decides to make the move. Kevin Youkilis was another major player who headed to the NPB to cap off a memorable career, though his experience did not go as hoped and he played in only 21 games there before retiring.
It’s tough to imagine that Jones is receiving truly satisfactory interest stateside. The longtime Orioles star ended up landing a $3MM deal with the Diamondbacks last year after languishing on the market. he appeared in 137 games and received 528 plate appearances in Arizona, but struggled to a .260/.313/.414 batting line.
he can still play at the mlb level
Nope
Yeah, at a low level whereas in Japan he can be somewhat of a star. After the long career that he’s had, the appeal certainly makes sense.
.260 with 10HR isn’t bad at all
It’s pretty bad, especially considering he is no longer a speed threat, or a good fielder.
An OPS+ of 87 is bad for an OF who also has below-average defense and no speed.
Excellent player in his prime. He’s still a quality player. Could have a few more miles? Worth a shot. If so, best of luck!
I think quality is stretching it. He has a little bit of power left (and not even a lot considering the current state of the game), doesn’t get on base, and plays below average defense. His skills might play better in Japan because of the differences between major leagues, but from an MLB perspective he’s no more than a bench player at this juncture.
He doesn’t look like a “quality” player anymore. He put up -0.4 WAR last year, +0.2 the year before. It’s a shame, but he’s probably done as a major league starter. Makes sense to try in Japan rather than accept some minor league deal with an invite to ST.
Wouldn’t leave Baltimore to play for a contender for two months. Now willing to uproot to Japan. Ok.
I’m glad someone else sees the irony here. Had Jones gone to Philly, he’d probably still be there, given that it has become Baltimore North. Being in Baltimore so long, Jones became susceptible to an inflated sense of self. Past Orioles management had a distorted view of the value of their players. The fans still do.
What do you know about Baltimore fans? We’re in the middle of a huge rebuild, way to kick them while they’re down.
He’s spot on, haha.
-Orioles fan
You’re both right. O’s and their fan base/market are sad sack. Routinely overrun with Red Sox and Yankees fans, otherwise crickets. Sad to see what’s happened with the game day experience.
Years of neglect and the DC market will do that. But why youse gotta kick em when they’re down. – Mid Atlantic expat who remembers the initial Camden Yards excitement and sellouts, pre-MASN battle with DC
Why would attendance be high during a complete rebuild? Attendance was fine when we had that nice run of winning for half a decade.
Maybe I missed the part when the Orioles won something…?
What are you talking about?
O’s fans for wow!!-
What are you talking about?
O’s fans for wow!!
It’s not ironic at all. If anything it proves his point. He wanted stability ans didn’t want to move for a two month stint. Now he’s getting two years of stability instead of one year and then moving cities for a third time.
he clearlt wanted to stay in Baltimore but it wasnt an option last year or this year.
He didn’t want to play in philly
Correction; Adam Jones didn’t want to play for a ring. Good news, he can’t win an MLB World Series in Japan. But he’ll play for a nice contract.
WereAllJustGuests- What is exactly is your problem with jones? You seem a little biased here.
Seems like he really wanted Jones on (non-contender) Philly. And was b hurt when things didn’t work out.
Baltimore can’t afford to give him a left field job for a year? He’s gotta be better than any of the AA players they are running out there, I could see how having an experience playing in a completely different situation would be appealing to some guys though, get paid for an extended vacation into a brand new culture, that would be rad
Elias isn’t sentimental about former players. That should be evident by now. Additionally; the Orioles are looking for minor league free agents or marginal ML players. They’re cutting costs to the bone. Jones could make far more in Japan. Look at the difficulty he had in securing a one year deal last season.
I bet you’d like to uproot your family for a 2 month move, only to have to do it again when free agency comes. The Phillies ended up not making the playoffs and the O’s wouldn’t have gotten any player of note in return, so I’m not seeing how what Jones did was silly. Meanwhile this trip to Japan is a potential multi-year endeavor. Sounds like the best way to give the family some stability for a few years.
I’m an O’s fan and love Jones. We’re in full tank mode, but Adam Jones can’t be a worse CF than Stevie friggin Wilkerson! Even if he costs a few mill a year
I bet you’d like to uproot your family for a 2 month move,
————————————————————
LOL! Sorry, but you don’t have to move your family just because you won’t be around for two months.
Plus, if he was in Philly, he could’ve driven hom on off-days.
Plus, if you are going to move to AZ for one year, then what difference does it make if it becomes 1 year and two months, if you are moving anyway.
Now he wants to move his family to Japan?
He can do what he wants, but unless he views Japan as a learning thing for his kids, it is a strange thought process.
You’re fighting an uphill battle using logic with an Orioles fan.
@ Jim Carter – milk spit funny, thanks!
Always amusing how personally fans take it when a player exercises their no trade clause. Even fans of neither team that’s involved
NOOO, WE LOVE YOU ADAM!!!! please stay!!!!
I think the Angels would be a decent fit. Need a 4th outfielder/platoon partner with Goodwin until (hopefully) Adell is ready.
Adam Jones will RAKE in Japan. I hope he does it. I hope he goes and puts up video game numbers in Japan for a season. I’d love to see it.
Me too. I always liked Jones.
Maybe 9 years ago. At this point, Jones will be one of the better players but not jaw dropping.
Thames put up video game numbers, but we all know why…
How can Jones struggle to hit .260 when others hit a a robust .244? Just have to love reading this articles.
Not that tough to understand when you look at his batting line. He doesn’t walk much and produces well below league average.
Because a .313 OBP, or .414 slugging, or just 16 home runs is far from robust.
I’ve alway wondered about how writers can phase it to say that one player hit a solid .240 and another player hit a lowly .260 or some other terminalogy that doesn’t make sense.Maybe Mr. Todd can give us an answer to that?
It depends on the other numbers. On-Base% and slugging matter when determining if someone is doing their share in the offense or not.
It’s because you’re only looking at one pretty bad stat. It doesn’t tell you anything if they just give you the BA.
@drbnicxyz123…
Jones 2019 WAR -0.4 with oWAR 0.2 and dWAR -1.0
baseball-reference.com/players/j/jonesad01.shtml
2019 was a “struggle” for Jones in comparison to his previous seasons.
Now, do I need to find an example of a 0.240 hitter with a WAR above 2.0 for you, or can you do that on your own?
He’s a jack off. Would leave Baltimore to travel a half hour to play for contenders and now he’s chasing money half way around the world. Hope he tears his ACL getting off the plane.
Philly is more than a half hour from Baltimore, chief.
yes it is 100 miles or so , right down 95. I think he was using a bit of hyperbole.
Well, and Philly is hardly a contender.
Real classy, wishing injuries on others who don’t do exactly what you think you’d do in the same situation.
Classy, as is pelting Santa with snowballs. Consider the source
that’s harsh
Jones still puts up good numbers. he can be the 3rd OF for plenty of teams (CWS? SD?)
A .313 OBP, or .414 slugging is far from solid.
The Sox are aiming higher and younger than Adam Jones. If San Diego wants to break 500,then they should do the same.
Terrible
Difference is Youkilis was milking another payday. Jones can still play.
Why is a .260 average considered a struggle??? I mean it’s average and not great but it’s not a .230 average
He hit just 16 home runs and had a .414 slugging last year. Plus his OPS+ was just 87.
Kind of crazy that in 2018 he had a .313 OBP and .419 slugging which was about league average OPS+ (101). Yet in 2019, he basically does the same thing (.313 OBP and .414 slugging) and his OPS+ falls to 87. I know there are some park adjustments but I think his dip in OPS+ is more reflective of how many homers everyone was hitting this past year.
His bWAR for the past two seasons is -0.2. Everyone probably has a minor leaguer that can duplicate that or better. -41 DRS in the past four seasons, so he can’t come in for defensive purposes.. No speed, so he can’t PR.
All my military friends have all said without hesitation their least favorite place to live or be stationed is Japan. It’s one thing to visit, it’s another when you live there.
I like the Japanese people I’ve known, but you can never be part of their culture. Once a gaijin, always a gaijin.
Kind of like Philly too. One thing to visit. Another to live there.
I think it would be a good career move for Jones. He no longer has the offensive or defensive value to be anything more than a bench player (at bench player prices) over here, but I imagine he could do much better in terms of money and playing time overseas.
F him. Are all the other teams racists to Adam. STFU and GFY
racist, username checks out.
You’re very dumb
Come on Adam, you don’t like sushi, stay home
He’s still good enough to play at the MLB lvl with the right money. There are far worse players out there playing every day, that’s for sure.
But more power to him… find the money, play the game. Go as long as you can. Playing a game for pay is everyone’s dream. Hold on to it as long as your body and mind will let u
Philly was not a contender the year he votoed the trade. They had a chance at making the playoffs but they were not a contender in any real sense. They were there worst defensive team in baseball for cripes sakes. Why give up the chance to say goodbye to the place where you made your career to at best go out in the first round of the playoffs?
He’s only 64 hits away from 2000. I saw him as a green rookie playing center field for Seattle. Shame to see him leave for a little more money in Japan. I hope he stays and gets to 2000, it would be a good way to finish his career. And he’s only 34 years old.
Go play for Detroit and cheap money Adam!
That’s the team Ichiro used to play for and now that’s the team Jones is praying for.