Diamondbacks nods for free agent contract with Jones


Devdiscourse News Desk | Arizona | Updated: 11-03-2019 06:43 IST | Created: 11-03-2019 06:34 IST
Diamondbacks nods for free agent contract with Jones
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The Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a free-agent contract with veteran outfielder Adam Jones, according to multiple reports Sunday. The five-time All-Star Jones still reportedly needs to complete a team physical to finalize the deal, which ESPN reports will be for one year and $3 million. USA Today reports that Jones will have the chance to earn up to $2 million more in incentives.

Jones comes off his worst offensive season in 10 years, albeit one when he hit a respectable .281 with 15 home runs and 63 RBIs in 145 games for the Baltimore Orioles. Jones, 33, has provided consistent production over the last decade after breaking through for his first All-Star appearance shortly before turning 23 in the 2009 season with Baltimore. He has put up at least 600 at-bats in every season but one since 2010 and played in 145-plus games eight times over the past nine seasons.

For his career, Jones has posted a .278/.318/.456 batting line with 266 homers and 878 RBIs in 1,686 games since debuting with the Seattle Mariners in 2006 at age 20. Originally a Seattle first-round pick in 2003, Jones was one of five players dealt to Baltimore in exchange for pitcher Erik Bedard prior to the 2008 season. A four-time Gold Glover, Jones was one of the most important pieces in a long rebuild for the Orioles, which culminated in Baltimore reaching the postseason three times in a five-year stretch from 2012-16.

Jones recorded 15 or more long balls in 10 of his 11 seasons with the Orioles. Jones posted seven straight 20-homer seasons from 2011-17, including a career-best 33 home runs with 108 RBIs in 2013. Jones leaves the Orioles ranking ninth in the club's top 10 in games (1,613), seventh in runs scored (875), fifth in hits (1,781) and home runs (263), and sixth in RBIs (866).

After providing highlight-reel play in center field for most of his career, Jones is expected to provide depth at all three outfield spots in Arizona, who lost free agent A.J. Pollock to their National League West rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, in January. 

(With inputs from agencies.)

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