Editorials

Could The Dodgers Take A Run at Adam Jones?

The talk for a good amount of the offseason has been about the Dodgers need for a right-handed bat. Of course, that talk became more frequent after the team traded right handed bats in Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig.

While the spotlight has been shined at Bryce Harper since that trade — and trust that he is the star of the off-season — there are options out there that make sense, at a fiscally responsible price.



Another name we’ve seen here and there is free agent outfielder AJ Pollock. Pollock is a right-handed swinging outfielder, and has been worth 14.6 WAR on offense in his career. The dude can hit. While he helps this team immensely (plus the Dodgers are the only team that could survive one of his signature injury shortened seasons), I do not see this front office giving up the draft pick required to sign him. If you were unsure, Pollock is a qualifying offer guy.

Undoubtedly the team needs more help on offense, and the preferred handedness is right. And the preferred position is likely outfield.

A New Contender

Enter Adam Jones. Jones is a 33 year old outfielder that has made a career and name for himself with the Baltimore Orioles. While the Dodgers haven’t necessarily been linked to him, he’s still an intriguing option. He hasn’t put up an oWAR under 2 since 2008. He has 266 homeruns in his career. And while his defense eroded in 2018, he’s a 4-time gold glove winner in centerfield.

He also did this one time.

Yes, he robbed his teammate Manny Machado of a homerun. Analysis: cool.

While MLB Trade Rumors ranked him as the 46th best free agent going into the off-season, the rumor mill has been quiet for Mr. Jones.

Why Adam Jones?

In the same way that the Dodgers could manage to survive hypothetical injuries to a potential AJ Pollock, so could they help rest an aging Adam Jones, who’s best days are likely behind him. While he undoubtedly can still hit a good amount, he would benefit greatly from reduced playing time going forward in his career.

The Dodgers, of course, are the kings of the platoon and part time players, much to the chagrin of much of the fan base. While Jones vetoed a trade to the Phillies at last year’s trade deadline due to concerns over playing time, his market this off-season should have him thinking a bit differently for his career going forward. Basically, if you want to play at all, expect to play less first, if that makes enough sense.

Where he fits

With current outfield depth listed as Joc Pederson, Cody Bellinger, Alex Verdugo, Andrew Toles, and two right handed batting infielders named Kiké Hernandez and Chris Taylor (who might actually be the second baseman), there’s an outstanding need for righty help in the outfield. In a rotation around the outfield, and a reduced role, the San Diego native Adam Jones really could have an impressive year in 2019 and perhaps find that elusive championship close to home.

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Clint Pasillas

Clint Pasillas has been writing, blogging, and podcasting about the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2008. Under Clint's leadership as the Lead Editor, Dodgers Nation has grown into one of the most read baseball sites in the world with millions of unique visitors per month. Find him online on Twitter/X or his YouTube channel!

7 Comments

  1. Jones is only worth a minor league deal with a ST invite. He is another hitter who has benefited greatly by playing half his games each season in Camden Yards who is on the downside of his career. If the team wants a RH hitter to platoon with a corner OF’er they should consider 29 year old FA Robbie Grossman, a switch hitter who hits LH pitching very well (.325/.438/.444/.882 in 2018). Grossman’s defense is substandard, but he makes up for that with his bat. Better yet, spend some trade capital like Joc Pederson and a pitcher like Brock Stewart to acquire Nick Castellanos and move him to LF.

    1. Castellanos has only 1 year of team control left. But I would prefer a player who already is or has been in the NL. As we know, many players take time to adjust to a new league.

    2. Thank you bringing up the Camden Yards factor! I thought about adding that here, but it would have been too much.

      Despite his perceived ‘terrible’ 2018 (mainly it was his defense that disappeared, and his OBP suffered at the plate), I still think he wouldn’t accept a minor league deal from any team. He’s still a very serviceable hitter, even away from Baltimore.

      I’ve been very not in on Castellanos all offseason. I’d rather have just kept Puig, who can put up similar offense with potential elite defense.

      Personally, I’m fine running Joc/Belli/Verdugo, and mixing in some real opportunity for Andrew Toles.

  2. I started out thinking ‘gross’. To be honest, on a one year deal at a low cost; this could become a fun thing. Just not sure how he fits with playing CF and Bellinger needing to slot there.

  3. The Dodgers, the team of Jackie Robinson, doesn’t need this type of attitude – “We already have two strikes against us already,’’ Baltimore Orioles All-Star center fielder Adam Jones told USA TODAY Sports, “so you might as well not kick yourself out of the game. In football, you can’t kick them out. You need those players. In baseball, they don’t need us.

    “Baseball is a white man’s sport.’’

  4. Undoubtedly the team needs more help on offense, and the preferred handedness is right. And the preferred position is likely outfield..My only thought here is perhaps that RHB that does not need to be platooned. But Jones would most likely see less playing time because of Dodger’s platooning philosophy if he were considered. But this is a long shot big time as far as signing him anyway.

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