Atlanta Braves: Adam Jones Should Be A Brave

Adam Jones has yet to find a job. He’s not the only baseball player still looking for a contract deep into February, but Jones is a player the Atlanta Braves can afford and improve the team for the upcoming season.

Nick Markakis was signed to an incentive-heavy contract with the Atlanta Braves earlier in the offseason, but why can’t Jones come to Atlanta to be the backup plan, maybe even the starter? Adam Jones is a player that can help this Braves team right now, so why isn’t there any buzz around him?

Adam Jones already has connections to the Atlanta Braves. He grew up in Braves Country in the midst of Atlanta’s most successful years. Jones wears the number 10 because of Chipper Jones. The ties are here as far as team and player connection go. And the Braves are still in need of improving this team going into the season.

Jones could be the pop off the bench that the Braves need. It’s no secret that baseball seasons are very long. Guys get tired and need breaks from time to time. We all saw firsthand what happened to Markakis in the second half of the season last year. And who knows if Markakis is going to be able to emulate that kind of success all over again this season. Adam Jones feels like a safer bet.

The Braves clearly have questions about Nick Markakis. That’s why the team gave him a small contract. It feels like the contract a bench player would receive. There is no way the team thinks Markakis will have another Silver Slugger, Golden Glove, an All-Star kind of year. That’s just not likely. And I feel like Markakis getting that deal has a lot to do with what he did last season.

That seems like a risky gamble for the Braves to depend on a 34-year-old outfielder. If this team actually wants to contend for postseason success, I don’t think Markakis is going to be the guy who leads us there. The Braves can give themselves a better chance of success by gambling on the younger player. It’s just a matter of whether Jones wants to be here.

We can assume Adam Jones wants a long-term deal for a lot of money. The market this offseason has shown all of us that’s not likely. Maybe he just doesn’t want to be a bench/platoon guy. Jones is still young enough to produce at a high level, so I’m sure he wants to be compensated as such.

That’s fair, I’m not going to tell anyone to take less money than they think they deserve. With the season right around the corner, I can’t imagine Jones not playing this season. So, the Braves need to make him an offer, on a short-term deal, so Jones can still prove that he is capable of putting up big numbers.

If Jones can come to Atlanta, have a big season, and play in the postseason that will look great for his free agency next season. The same kind of deal that Donaldson is on. A “show me” kind of deal. That kind of deal can benefit both parties in this situation.

Adam Jones is a player who can improve the Braves right now. It’s amazing that a player of his caliber is still on the market this late. He’s affordable, unlike Harper and Machado. Maybe the Braves are focused on other deals at the moment, most notably Craig Kimbrel.

But if there is a chance the Braves can get Jones on a deal both sides agree on, they have to jump on it. Adam Jones is a proven All-Star caliber player who can make this baseball team better by walking into the door. The Braves have the money and need. This is a deal that needs to get done.