Trade rumor: Adam Jones is the Phillies’ latest target as they look to upgrade at the deadline

Trade rumors about Orioles players who weren’t named Manny Machado or Zach Britton were mostly whisperings before Britton was shipped to the Yankees on Tuesday, but now that their two top trade chips are elsewhere, Baltimore can finally start focusing in earnest on other players who could net them decent assets in return such as Jonathan Schoop and Adam Jones.

The rumor

Fancred Sport’s Jon Heyman is reporting that the Phillies, who were one of the reported top suitors for Machado, are very interested in Jones. Heyman cites Jones’ clubhouse leadership and personality as one reason he might be a fit, but there are others.

Why the Orioles would trade Adam Jones to the Phillies

The same reason they were set to trade Machado to Philadelphia if the price was right: the Phillies have the assets to pay whatever price they’re looking for, if they think it’s worth the move. Now, Jones won’t command quite the same pile of assets that the Orioles were looking for for a few months of Machado’s employment but the point is that they can still ask for what they want and see if the Phillies bite.

Jones is finishing up his six-year, $85.5 million contract in Baltimore at the end of the season so it absolutely makes sense for the team to move him before the deadline. They’d be silly not to. He’s almost 33 and there’s a reason he wasn’t one of the top targets on the market, but it’s a tough market because of the price being attached to players under even a few months of team control.

So teams will be more likely to engage with talks for a player like Jones who is a major short term help and won’t cost them an arm and a leg.

Why the Phillies would trade for Adam Jones

This rental makes far more sense than Machado, who they are known to be after as a free agent as well, because the price is lower but would still be a boost. Philadelphia isn’t desperate for help in the outfield but they could use it, and his .987 fielding percentage this year and his Range Factor numbers are above league average in both per nine and per game categories.

He’s a reliable defensive presence as well as a leader on the field, and despite the outfield not being a priority for Philadelphia it would be hard to deny the need especially with the recent demotion of Aaron Altherr. They don’t not need help in the outfield.

And while lower than his 2017 numbers across the board, he’s putting up an offensive line of .277/.304/.422 with a .727 OPS and 38 RBI. He would be aboost the Phillies’ lineup enough as they compete with the Braves and the Nationals for the division — especially if the Nationals prove to be more of a threat in the back half of the season than they were in the first.

Rumor grade

A-. This seems legit. It’s a reasonable need, and while there’s no rumors yet as to what the Orioles are specifically asking for this seems like a player that both sides could reach an agreement on that works for both. Adam Jones being the difference in the NL East might not be what fans in that division saw coming at the beginning of the year, but this is one of the most realistic rumors out there at the moment.