D-Backs to sign OF Jones to 1-year deal

Outfielder Adam Jones and the Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a $3 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Sunday because the agreement was subject to a successful physical.

The signing frees up the versatile Ketel Marte to shift into more of a super utility role, in which he will get regular at-bats at multiple positions. Marte still is expected to play occasionally in center field.

Jones will be joining an outfield that also includes left fielder David Peralta, right fielder Steven Souza Jr. and the speedy Jarrod Dyson.

Assuming the club remains committed to carrying three catchers and wants to keep slugger Christian Walker, the Jones signing figures to be bad news for outfielder Socrates Brito. A 33-year-old five-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner, Jones spent his first 13 big league seasons with the Baltimore Orioles.

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Jones was an All-Star annually from 2012-15 and hit .265 with 29 homers and 83 RBIs in 2016. He batted .285 the following year but slipped to 26 homers and 73 RBIs, then dropped to .281 with 15 homers and 63 RBIs last year for an Orioles team that shed most veterans went a big league-worst 47-115. His streak of seven straight years of 20 or more homers ended last year.

He routinely rated as a negative defender according to both Ultimate Zone Rating and Defensive Runs Saved, both of which saw him fall off significantly in center field over the past two seasons.

He used his contractual right to block a proposed trade to Philadelphia at the July 31 trade deadline, saying he did not want to be a corner outfielder for the Phillies. “It wasn’t the best move for Adam going into free agency, to platoon in a position I was not playing,” he said in September.

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