Adam Jones signs two-year deal with team in Japan

Adam Jones, faced with the idea he’ll linger available again as a free agent stateside, is headed to Japan.

A slow MLB free agent market over the last couple offseasons before this one has led to late signings for a lot of players. Ahead of last season, Adam Jones didn’t sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks until March 11, 2019, and he was probably facing another prolonged stay on the open market this offseason with no guarantee he’d get a decent major league deal from anyone.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported Monday Jones was in negotiations on a multi-year deal with with the Orix Buffaloes in Japan. On Tuesday, the veteran outfielder announced he is indeed headed to the Japan to start the next chapter of his career.

According to Rosenthal, Jones will sign a two-year, $8 million deal with Orix. An additional $2 million is available in incentives, and he reaches those incentives and Orix exercises an option for 2022 Jones can earn a max of $15.5 million over the next three seasons.

Jones started strongly last season with the Diamondbacks, but his playing time and production faded into a .260/.313/.414 slash-line, along with 16 home runs and 67 RBI over 528 plate appearances. His once top-notch defense in the outfield also continued to fall off, as he posted negative marks in UZR and Defensive Runs Saved for the fourth consecutive season.

Jones’ best years came with the Baltimore Orioles from 2008-2018. Over those 11 seasons he posted a .279/.319/.459 slash-line with 263 home runs, 866 RBI, 90 stolen bases, four Gold Gloves and five All-Star selections as he delivered 31.6 bWAR and 29.5 fWAR. From 2009-2017, he averaged 27 home runs and 83 RBI per season (29 home runs and 91 RBI per 162 games).

If his days playing stateside are done, and at 34 years old (35 next August) that seems likely, Jones’ time in Baltimore will be what he is clearly remembered for. He will go down as one of the most underappreciated stars of his era.