The Phillies’ list of trade targets includes Orioles outfielder Adam Jones and Twins infielder Eduardo Escobar, Fancred Sports’ Jon Heyman reports. Indeed, MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi lists the Phillies and Indians as “two of the most serious contenders” to acquire Jones before the trade deadline. (Morosi initially reported on Cleveland’s interest in Jones earlier this month.)
Philadelphia and Baltimore have been linked in trade talks for much of the summer, as the Phils were known to be suitors for Manny Machado and Zach Britton before both former O’s stars were dealt to the Dodgers and Yankees, respectively. It’s fair to assume that the Orioles have a very good sense of the Phils’ farm system at this point, both from scouting and negotiations and the simple fact that there are more than a few former Baltimore executives in Philadelphia’s front office (chief among them club president Andy MacPhail and GM Matt Klentak).
Jones, who turns 33 on August 1, is owed roughly $7MM for the remainder of the season. He’s a free agent this winter, so he’d represent a pure rental for the Phillies, who would get a veteran upgrade in their outfield that wouldn’t represent a long-term roadblock for younger talents like Nick Williams.
With Odubel Herrera locked into everyday center field duty, Jones’ likeliest role with the Phillies would be to take over from Williams as the regular right fielder. It’s worth noting that Williams (.250/.329/.438 in 286 PA, 12 homers, 104 OPS+, 105 wRC+) is actually hitting better than Jones (.277/.304/.422 in 411 PA, 10 homers, 100 OPS+, 96 wRC+) this year, though Jones brings a much longer track record of performance to the table. Williams also has been a very subpar defender in right field, so Jones should represent an upgrade in that area even if his own metrics in the more challenging center field position have been well below average for the last three years. The recent demotion of Aaron Altherr left the Phillies in need of a backup outfielder, so Williams would step into that role.
Escobar has mostly played third base for the Twins this year, though with Maikel Franco hitting better in recent weeks, the Phillies would likely use Escobar in place Scott Kingery at shortstop. Escobar is in the midst of an outstanding .278/.338/.522 campaign over 397 PA, and the 29-year-old has also delivered 15 homers and a league-best 37 doubles. He is another rental player, and only has roughly $1.7MM still owed to him for the rest of the season.
The Phillies aren’t content until they acquire an Oriole in some type of fashion 0 for 2 so far.
And yet… they’re still very interested.. must be the intangibles not to mention heart.
There are so many unmeasurables involved with a very good veteran ball player.
Gimme Escobar. Unless they take a bag of chips for Jones, not interested.
Remember when everyone was saying how amazing the Kingery deal was for the Phillies? Signing a player with no experience to a big deal. Looks like that will be an expensive mistake, likely boat anchor on the roster for years to come.
Yeti thinks he knows baseball. Lol. Kingery will be a stud.
I’ll not say Kingery will be a stud, or that his contract is a waste. There are plenty of rookies who take a year or two to adjust to the majors (position players as well as pitchers).
Also remember that the contract made it possible that the Phillies didn’t need to manipulate service time with him, which enabled them to trade Freddy Galvis for De Los Santos.
Worst case for the Phillies, Kingery is a total bust. They’re out about 6 million per year for the next several years. They have the payroll flexibility to write it off the same way Boston has done with Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez – both significantly more than 6 million.
He’s a rookie who just turned 24 in April. The contract buys out three free agent years and has roughly a $6 million AAV cap hit. His top comp is usually Dustin Pedroia. You wouldn’t want a player like that under contract for that little? Unless he is an unmitigated disaster as he matures, it’s a great deal for the Phillies.
Also, Kingery got off to an awful start….he’s hitting like .280 over the last month and a half to 2 months….the power should come as will some stolen bases….wouldn’t mind Escobar though so Kingery can shift to a Super Utility role for the rest of the season
Yes, because 4-5 million is so much for a team like the Phillies to swallow. Decent utility men make more than that and he still has a chance to be good
I agree Jones is not worth his salary. Other Orioles fan would disagree. But all it takes is one hot month and he is worth the price of some A or AA pitcher that won’t see the majors other than as a spot starter or bad RP.
Right now he has no motivation. Even though he is a FA after the season he seems to be on auto-pilot.. He is also not a top of the line up hitter. Bat him 6th or 7th and he will help out. NL is supposed to be the fastball league. He can hit the fastball. Just not the curve.
Not saying you’re right or wrong, but I’m just curious, who claimed that the NL is the “fastball league” and is there really any evidence that there’s really any difference between the two leagues in that regard? I would tend to think pitchers don’t stop throwing fastballs just because they go to the AL
Jones would PLATOON with Williams… Not REPLACE him. Kingery will be fine eventually… but a bat is needed for this stretch run. Escobar kinda fits the bill but I’m not sure about his defense at SS.
He is a natural SS. .979 fielding average at the position for his career.
Fielding percentage is all well and good and everything but there is a lot more to it than that. Having watched him for the last several years he is bad defensively there.
He can’t be any worst than what the Phillies have done at times. I think he is a perfect fit them.
Kingery is a significantly improved SS from what he was even 2 months ago.
Fielding percentage? Really? Maybe the very most useless stat there is.
Ok my bad. I apologize for annoying anyone that took offense to the post about fielding percentage. I hope you all forgive my stupidity.
According to any advanced fielding metric Escobar has been an (very, very slightly above) average fielding SS so he’s definitely not terrible.
Totally agree. There’s no chance they take Nick out of the lineup minus a spot start or against lefties. Jones would be a terrific 4th outfielder and bench presence for the team. Escobar in the lineup would add a huge punch that Kingery just can’t provide right now. A bench of Knapp Jones Kingery Crawford and florimon down the stretch would be perfect. Somehow pull of getting archer and the deadline would be a complete success.
Jones would be a superior defender. I’d rather just platoon Quinn and Williams though.
Trade for Jones makes no sense
please, any of you, never upvote Casey’s Partner.
I’d rather upvote a bag of chips.
I Agree!!
Jones is a wonderful person and a natural leader of men. I bet he flourishes in RF after having to cover practically the entire outfield as a centerfielder with lug nuts like Trumbo and Mancini on his flanks.
And he’ll get hot at the plate in August. Whether he goes to Cleveland or to Philly they will love him.
All the reasons why I wouldn’t mind if the White Sox sign him to a cheap say 2 year contract this winter to mentor the young outfielders we got coming up.
Make it happen captain! Trade Jones.
A move for the sake of making a move is a wasted trade asset. Jones isnt an upgrade at 32 w an expiring deal. Escobar, maybe you have an argument there bc SS is weak, and he played a good SS… 3 years ago…
I hope the O’s front office have discussed moving Adam Jones before they pursue any options since Jones has his 10 and 5 rights.
Adam Jones is a stud. He’ll have the biggest impact on a contender of any of the players the O’s have traded so far. Hope he returns to Baltimore to finish out his career and mentor the next round of Birds.
Nick Williams is hitting well. They are not going to replace him as an everyday player but a 4th outfielder er is necessary. Jones would be a good fit, he can play right and center and spell Odubel and Williams and even Hoskins when we get to the dog days. Like the way the Phils are playing although the porous defense is a major issue.