The Orioles announced on Tuesday that they have agreed to terms with center fielder Adam Jones on a one-year deal, avoiding a arbitration hearing scheduled for Friday.
The 26-year-old Jones batted .280 with a .319 on-base percentage and slugged .466 in 2011 for the Orioles. He set career highs in games (151), doubles (26), home runs (25), RBI (83), stolen bases (12) and total bases (264) on his way to being named the club’s most valuable player.
Set to become a free agent following the 2013 season, the one-year contract does little to address Jones’ future in Baltimore, but it does avoid a potentially contentious situation had the sides gone to arbitration. Executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette has reportedly entered very preliminary discussions with Jones’ agent Nez Balelo over the possibility of a long-term deal, but it doesn’t appear talks will continue once the season begins.
With Jones’ status resolved for 2012, the Orioles have no remaining arbitration cases to address with spring training set to begin in Sarasota this weekend.
