Adam Jones is reportedly of interest to the Phillies. (Keith Allison/Wikimedia Commons)
One of the defining moves of Philadelphia Phillies president Andy MacPhail’s career came in February of 2009, when he was the general manager of the Baltimore Orioles. Following a career-year, MacPhail shipped his ace, Erik Bedard, to the Seattle Mariners. In the trade, the Orioles netted five players, highlighted by future All-Star closer George Sherrill and outfielding prospect Adam Jones. Jones, now in his 11th season in Baltimore, has become a franchise icon. Bedard, meanwhile, played in just two-and-a-half seasons in Seattle, often struggling to stay healthy.
Now in Philadelphia, could it be that MacPhail and his hand-picked general manager, Matt Klentak, are angling to acquire Jones again?
According to Jon Heyman of Fancred Sports, the Phillies have some level of interest in the five-time All-Star:
The Phillies didn’t land Manny Machado from the Orioles, but they are now said to be considering another Baltimore star – longtime Orioles center fielder Adam Jones.
Jones, who is less than a week away from his 33rd birthday, is currently slashing .277/.304/.422 with 10 home runs and 38 RBIs. He isn’t the premier hitting outfielder that he once was, though he would seemingly still be an offensive upgrade for the Phillies, who optioned the Aaron Altherr to Triple-A last weekend. With Odubel Herrera in center field, the Phillies would likely ask the four-time Gold Glove Award winning Jones to shift from center field to right field. His defensive metrics have taken a noticeable step back in recent years, so that may be the best move for him at this stage of his career anyway. Nick Williams, who is hitting .230 as a starter but .400 as a pinch-hitter, would then become the team’s fourth outfielder.
A free-agent at the conclusion of the season, Jones has 10-and-5 rights, so he would have to approve any trade. That would likely mean him accepting moving away from his natural position of center field. But one would think it would be an easy decision – especially after the respective trades of Manny Machado and Zach Britton – for Jones to leave the 29-73 Orioles to join a pennant race.
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