The Baltimore Sun reported Friday that Adam Jones is likely to avoid being designated as a Super 2:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bal-sp.osnotes30oct30,0,1767447.story
“Though it won’t be officially decided until next month, it appears that center fielder Adam Jones will avoid Super 2 contract status, pushing his arbitration eligibility until after the 2010 season and saving the Orioles money in the process.”
Based on this, you could understand the O’s not attempting to extend Jones’ contact until after the completion of next-year. Still, I would attempt to get it done this Winter if possible.
My understanding is that Jones would be Arbitration eligible during the 2011, ’12, and ’13 seasons, and a Free Agent for 2014.
I would want to be offering Jones a contract that buys his first 3 years of Free Agency, making him an Oriole through the 2016 season, where Jones would be turning 31.
I suggest a contract that is along the lines of 7 years at $70M. I think that is fair to both sides, and would prove to be a bargain for Baltimore.
If I were the O’s, I would rather try and extend Jones now, when Jones is coming off of a poor 2nd-half (.695 OPS) and the ankle injury; vs. trying to extend him coming off a superb 2010 season.
For all the talk about how his year ended, Jones had a .980 ish OPS through the end of May. It is certainly not out of the question that Jones ends 2010 with an OPS pushing .900. While that would represent a 100 point gain over his 2009 production, Jones did have an 81 point in ’09, over the ’08 season.
He just turned 24, and is going to continue to improve. Even if that was not true, and the player he showed to be in 2009 was him at his peak; I would still want that player for 7 yrs and $70M.
The O’s have plenty of money coming off of their books this off-season, and the lack of Free Agent talent, basically indicates the O’s will not be spending much this off-season. You could argue that does not mean the O’s have to give away money to Jones. I would argue that the O’s are presented with an opportunity to get Jones done long-term at a bargain.
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Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.