The Orioles and Adam Jones have had preliminary discussions about an extension, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. Executive VP of baseball operations Dan Duquette acknowledged the talks, but said they aren't currently the club's top priority.
"Yes, we have discussed a variety of different options,” Duquette said. “But the goal right now is to get a deal for this year and avoid the hearing."
Jones, who has an arbitration hearing scheduled for Friday, seeks $7.4MM and the Orioles offered $5MM. The 26-year-old is on track to hit free agency after the 2013 season. MLBTR's Tim Dierkes suggested in August that a four-year extension in the $40MM range could work for both sides and examined Jones’ case in further detail last week. The center fielder posted a .280/.319/.466 line with 25 homers last year. Jones said about a month ago that the Orioles hadn’t started extension talks.
I don’t know, I think he looks better with short hair
Let me break out the Dan Duquette translator for this one:
“We actually haven’t because we’re afraid he’ll shoot us down but I’m going to tell you we have in the most non-committal terms possible so I don’t look like a moron who doesn’t know what I’m doing.”
No way does he give up a year of free agency if the average is just $10MM per season. I’d say the only way for a guy of Jones’ talent and potential to give up FA years at this point, 2+ FA years as Tim Dierkes is suggesting, would be a deal that is low paying now but matches the market rate later. Something like 2 years/$16MM or a Markakis-like deal with considerations of Jones’ better power and higher ceiling for growth would be 6 years/$84MM.
$2MM signing bonus 12: $8MM; 13: $10MM; 14: $14MM; 15: $15MM; 16: $16MM; 17:$17MM $2MM buy out and a 2018 option at $20MM.