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Orioles, Jones agree on lucrative deal

Orioles center fielder Adam Jones has a 17-game hitting streak and leads the team in home runs and RBIs. (Associated Press)
Associated Press

A person familiar with the negotiations says the Baltimore Orioles and center fielder Adam Jones agreed to a six-year contract through 2018 worth about $85 million.

The person spoke Saturday on condition of anonymity because the deal, which starts next year, had not yet been announced. The Orioles are expected to hold a news conference today to announce the agreement.

Jones, who earns $6.15 million this season, had been eligible for arbitration next winter and for free agency after 2013. Jones took a physical this week, a prerequisite to a long-term deal.

The 26-year-old has a 17-game hitting streak and leads Baltimore with 14 home runs and 31 RBIs.

Valentine lashes out

Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine called out the Tampa Bay Rays’ coaching staff a day after the teams were involved in a benches-clearing scrum.

Valentine said the Rays’ staff escalated the situation that arose in the ninth inning of Tampa Bay’s 7-4 win on Friday night after Red Sox reliever Franklin Morales hit Luke Scott on the right leg. He called their actions “unprofessional.”

Rays manager Joe Maddon said he had a lot of respect for Boston’s players, but would not comment on Valentine’s accusations.

Clearing the bases

The Atlanta Braves placed Chipper Jones on the 15-day disabled list with a bruised left leg and recalled catcher J.C. Boscan from Triple-A Gwinnett. Jones is hitting .307 with five homers and 24 RBIs. The DL move was retroactive to Thursday. … The St. Louis Cardinals optioned struggling reliever Fernando Salas, their closer much of last season, to Triple-A Memphis. Salas is 0-2 with a 6.32 ERA in 18 appearances this season, taking the loss his last two outings. The Cardinals recalled Chuckie Fick from Memphis to take Salas’ spot. … Cleveland Indians catcher Carlos Santana is likely headed to the seven-day concussion list. … Francisco Liriano is getting another shot in the Minnesota Twins’ starting rotation. Liriano, who is 0-5 with a 9.45 ERA in six starts, will start against Oakland on Wednesday.