Jones suggested in a personal essay posted Tuesday on The Players' Tribune that he's elected to end his playing career.
While Jones stops short of officially saying that he's retired, he notes in his opening paragraph that he took his "last swing of the bat as a professional ball player" in Nippon Professional Baseball's 2021 Japan Series. Before spending the past two years overseas with the Orix Buffaloes, the 36-year-old outfielder enjoyed a 14-season run in MLB that included stops with the Mariners, Orioles and Diamondbacks. He played the bulk of those years in Baltimore, with whom he was a five-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove Award winner and one-time Silver Slugger honoree. Jones will end his MLB career with a lifetime .277 average, 282 home runs and 97 stolen bases.
Jones posted via Instagram he agreed to a two-year deal with the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan on Tuesday.
Jones didn't end up securing a contract for 2019 until joining the Diamondbacks in March, so he'll now head to Japan for a two-year deal that includes $8 million guaranteed. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the deal also includes a team option for 2022, and the 34-year-old could earn up to $15.5 million total if he reaches all the included incentives. Jones slashed .260/.313/.414 with 16 home runs and 67 RBI in 137 games with Arizona last season after spending the previous 11 years with Baltimore.
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Diamondbacks' Adam Jones: Out with tight hamstring
Rotowire
Jones (hamstring) is not in Sunday's lineup against the Padres.
Unsurprisingly, Jones will sit the season finale after exiting Saturday's game with right hamstring tightness. Tim Locastro will start in right field and bat sixth.
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Diamondbacks' Adam Jones: Exits with hamstring tightness
Rotowire
Jones left Saturday's game against the Padres with right hamstring tightness.
Jones went 0-for-1 prior to be replaced in right field for the start of the fourth inning. The veteran outfielder's status for Sunday's season finale remains up in the air.
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Diamondbacks' Adam Jones: Heads to bench
Rotowire
Jones is not starting Wednesday against the Cardinals.
Jones played 10 innings during Tuesday's 19-inning win over the Cardinals, going 0-for-5 with a strikeout. He's now hitting just .170 through 12 games this month. The Diamondbacks are going with an outfield consisting of Josh Rojas, Tim Locastro and Abraham Almonte in Wednesday's series finale.
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Diamondbacks' Adam Jones: On bench Tuesday
Rotowire
Jones is not in the lineup Tuesday against St. Louis.
Jones has hit just .190/.227/.286 in the month of September. Abraham Almonte starts in right field in his absence.
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Diamondbacks' Adam Jones: Knocks 16th home run
Rotowire
Jones went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer in Sunday's 6-4 loss to San Diego.
Jones opened the game's scoring with his two-run shot in the second inning, his first since Aug. 26. He's 7-for-38 (.184 average) with only two extra-base hits this month.
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Diamondbacks' Adam Jones: Day off Wednesday
Rotowire
Jones is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Marlins.
Jones appeared to be losing his starting job in early September but then went on to start six out of eight games in right field prior to Wednesday's contest. Abraham Almonte starts there on this occasion.
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Diamondbacks' Adam Jones: Makes start Tuesday
Rotowire
Jones started in right field and went 1-for-4 in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Mets.
Jones made his first start in four games and just his third over the last nine. Jarrod Dyson has been getting more playing time of late, particularly against right-handed starters, but his recent hitting woes left him out of the lineup against New York right-hander Zack Wheeler on Tuesday.
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Diamondbacks' Adam Jones: Losing starting role
Rotowire
Jones will sit again Monday against the Mets.
Jones finds himself on the bench for the third game in a row and the sixth time in eight contests. He's seemingly lost his starting job, even though his .268/.318/.431 season slash line is perfectly decent. Each of the last eight games has come with a righty on the mound for the opposition, so it's possible Jones is still the preferred option against lefties. Jarrod Dyson starts in right field.
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Diamondbacks' Adam Jones: Sits again Sunday
Rotowire
Jones remains on the bench Sunday against Cincinnati.
Jones finds himself on the bench for the fifth time in the last seven games. The Diamondbacks have charged back into Wild Card contention, so that doesn't appear to be a case of avoiding him in favor of younger players in an audition for next season. Abraham Almonte will get the nod in right field.
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Diamondbacks' Adam Jones: Back on bench
Rotowire
Jones is not in the lineup Saturday against the Reds.
Jones sits for the fourth time in the last six games. He appears to be falling out of favor despite recording a strong .292/.358/.500 slash line over his last 18 games. Jarrod Dyson will be the right fielder Saturday.
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Diamondbacks' Adam Jones: Sits for third time in four days
Rotowire
Jones is not in the lineup Wednesday for the third time in four days.
Jones is hitting .285 with a respectable .751 OPS since the All-Star break, but he's found himself on the short end of the stick with manager Torey Lovullo deciding to rotate his starting right fielder since September got underway. Jarrod Dyson will man that position for the Diamondbacks on Wednesday.
