After 11 years with Orioles, Jones faces uncertain future
BALTIMORE (AP) — Adam Jones has done a wonderful job on and off the field during his 11 years with the Baltimore Orioles.
The five-time All-Star ranks high on many of the team's career batting lists and has become an integral part of the community.
But his future with the organization remains in doubt, so this weekend has served as a tentative Camden Yards farewell to a fan favorite.
With the Orioles in rebuild mode and Jones two months removed from celebrating his 33rd birthday, the team has to decide if it wants to bring him back when his contract expires after this season.
"Who holds the cards? Now, we kind of both do," Jones said Saturday. "But I'm not the one making business decisions on their regard. All I can do is make a business decision on my behalf."
Seems as if he would love to be back.
Jones has made a family in Baltimore, built a heck of a career and been part of countless charitable causes. He spurned a chance in July to join the contending Philadelphia Phillies as a corner outfielder, evoking his no-trade clause to stay with a team that will finish with the worst record in the majors.
"I nixed the no-trade because it was not a good move for Adam Jones going forward," said Jones, Baltimore's center fielder from 2008 to late this season, when he moved to right to make room for prospect Cedric Mullins. "It wasn't the best move for Adam going into free agency, to platoon in a position I was not playing."
Jones is on the Orioles' top-10 lists for games, hits, RBIs, runs, homers and total bases.
"There are some great players on that list," he said. "It's great to be in that conversation, but there's still a lot to be done to rise on that list."
Jones received a standing ovation before every at-bat in Friday night's game against Houston, and the practice is expected to continue through the season finale Sunday.
His gritty style would be missed, as would his charitable work. The Baltimore Orioles Charitable Foundation, Jones and his wife, Audie, this week jointly donated $150,000 to a variety of nonprofit organizations.
"It's not like you have to do it," Jones said. "Athletes don't have to anything but show up to work."
Jones shows up for work, even after spending an afternoon dedicating a Little League ballpark or visiting kids at a summer camp.
"It's just something he wants to do," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "You do it because it's right. Adam wants to do it with a purpose."
