The Orioles held a news conference Sunday morning to formally announce that they had signed the 26-year-old outfielder to a six-year, $85.5 million extension — a deal that surpasses the six-year, $72 million contract Miguel Tejada signed prior to the 2004 season as the largest in club history.
"We like Adam Jones, we like what he does for our ballclub," Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said on Friday. "[He] plays good defense and hits in the middle of the lineup. He's a dependable player, he plays the games."
Jones is now the second-highest paid center fielder in the majors, behind only the Dodgers' Matt Kemp, who signed a mammoth eight-year, $160 million extension in the offseason. With the Rangers' Josh Hamilton due to hit the open market this coming offseason, however, Jones likely will not hold the distinction for very long.
Jones is a career .278 hitter over seven seasons with the Mariners and Orioles, with 89 home runs and 322 RBIs. He has a 2009 Gold Glove and All-Star Game appearance to his credit, and is currently riding a fast start to the 2012 season, batting .309 with 14 home runs (tied for fourth in the American League) and 31 RBIs.
