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Baltimore Orioles: Is Orioles’ Adam Jones still the premiere center fielder in AL East?

By Nate Wardle

Sep 23, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones (10) warms up prior to the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 23, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones (10) warms up prior to the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /
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Center field is a position that has been set on the Baltimore Orioles roster for some years now, and it is also one where most of the division sees similar stability.

For the past several years, Baltimore Orioles Adam Jones has been the superior center fielder not only on the Baltimore Orioles but also in all of baseball.

Going from 2016 to 2017, all the players who started the most games in center field in 2016, are the projected starters in 2017. No significant additions to speak of, nobody who left.

So, does Jackie Bradley Jr. hold on to first place over Adam Jones? Does Kiermaier’s subpar 2016 keep him in the basement for the projections?

Without further ado, let’s get down to it.

But first, don’t forget to check out the projections for the catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop and left field rankings.

To recap, here are the 2016 rankings:

5. Tampa Bay Rays

4. New York Yankees

3. Toronto Blue Jays

2. Baltimore Orioles

1. Jackie Bradley Jr.

Remember to leave your comment with your thoughts on the rankings, whether you agree or disagree!

5. New York Yankees

Yankees’ CFs – Jacoby Ellsbury, Aaron Hicks, Mason Williams

The 33-year-old Ellsbury is on the downside of his career, let’s be honest. Defensively, his range continues to decrease each year, and he isn’t running as much either.

That doesn’t mean he isn’t a good player. Ellsbury batted .263/.330/.374 in 2016 with 9 HRs, 24 2Bs, 56 RBIs, 71 runs and 20 SBs in 148 games. That is a solid season.

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His oWAR was 1.9; his dWAR was 1.2. His defensive range was well below average for center fielders, although his total fielding runs above average was one. His runs saved number, at eight, was pretty solid.

If Ellsbury was a corner outfielder, it might help him defensively. However, his arm is quite weak, so that plays against him there.

The fact that Ellsbury is last shows the strength of the center field position in the AL East.

Behind Ellsbury are Hicks and Williams. Hicks continues to underperform, but likely will be the reserve outfielder for the Yanks in 2017.

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