Orioles Explored Long-Term Deal With Adam Jones

The Orioles spoke with Adam Jones' representatives last winter about a possible multiyear deal, Andy MacPhail tells MASNsports.com's Amber Theoharis, though negotiations didn't get very far.

"We actually, in Adam's case, had a brief conversation with Casey Close of CAA at the last winter meetings and talked about, you know, we'd be interested in talking about it in the following parameters," MacPhail said. "But I think they felt like Adam was still on the ascent and wanted him to play and further establish himself, and they may very well be right."

Jones and the O's avoided arbitration by settling on a $3.25MM contract for 2011.  Jones still has two more arbitration years left and he'll be in line for a nice raise if he continues his current .293/.343/.446 line through the rest of the season.  Theoharis notes that MacPhail's pattern since becoming Baltimore's president of baseball operations is to sign key players (i.e. Nick Markakis and Brian Roberts) to extensions long before they hit free agency, so MacPhail no doubt feels the sooner the O's can get Jones locked up, the better.