Jones lauds 'stability' Fowler will bring to Orioles
On Wednesday, less than 24 hours after the Baltimore Orioles reportedly agreed to a three-year deal with Dexter Fowler, Adam Jones expressed relief about knowing who he'll share the outfield with on a daily basis in 2016 - a luxury he didn't have last summer.
Related: Fowler gives Orioles one of baseball's best lineups
"To me it’s not about having someone who can go get the ball," Jones told reporters after the club's first full-squad workout in Sarasota, Fla. "It’s about having someone being there every day. Last year it was frustrating but understandable."
After ending their 13-year relationship with Nick Markakis last winter, the Orioles spent much of 2015 cycling different guys in and out of right field, with 11 different players - including Delmon Young, Travis Snider, and Steve Pearce - logging at least two games at the position. Fowler, however, played a career-high 156 games with the Chicago Cubs last season, and has spent more innings in the outfield since 2009 than all but 22 players.
"It was just an adjustment I had to make, and now with Fowler, someone who has proved he can play 150-plus games in a season, it just gives us stability," Jones said. "And he can play center field also. It just gives us stability because he’s an everyday player. And (when you play) for Showalter, you know you’re going to have five to seven guys that play 150 or at least 140. So he’s just going to be another guy out there who is going to be out there every day."
Fowler, who reportedly landed a three-year deal worth $35 million, will likely take over as the leadoff man for an Orioles lineup that was bolstered this offseason by the additions of Mark Trumbo and Korean expat Hyun-soo Kim. Last year, the 29-year-old hit .250/.346/.411 (107 OPS+) with 20 stolen bases and a career-high 17 homers to help the Cubs earn their first postseason berth since 2008.