Adam Jones went 3-for-4 and hit a pair of homers Monday in the Orioles' 12-9 defeat of the Red Sox. The Orioles improved to a Grapefruit League-best 18-7 this spring. Only the Royals, who are 21-6 in the Cactus League, have a better record overall. They were doing it essentially without Jones, too. The center fielder, who started for Team USA in the WBC, was 1-for-18 going into today.

Orioles outfielder Adam Jones, who played in all 162 games in 2012, joked to reporters on Friday that he's going after Cal Ripken Jr.'s record of 2,632 consecutive games played. It's certainly encouraging in this day and age to see a player's desire to be in the lineup everyday. Jones even worked harder this offseason to strengthen his lower body to better hold up over the grind of the MLB season. When asked about it, O's skipper Buck Showalter didn't completely rule out this possibility, but made it sound very unlikely that Jones would appear in every game in 2013.

The Orioles have signed manager Buck Showalter and executive VP Dan Duquette to contract extensions. The new deals will run through the 2018 season, and are certainly well-deserved. Showalter boasts a 196-185 managerial record since signing on with the O's, and Duquette has provided some of the players that have helped make that possible. The Orioles will be looking to secure their second straight postseason berth this summer.

Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports that the Orioles could announce a contract extension for manager Buck Showalter as soon as Thursday. If an announcement isn't made Thursday, it should come before Saturday's FanFest event. Showalter's current contract runs through the end of 2013, but he's expected to get at least three years tacked on. It's well deserved, as he has a 196-185 record as skipped and led the club to their first playoff appearance since 1997 last year.

Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports hears that Buck Showalter will get a four-year contract extension from the Orioles.

Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports that Adam Jones has accepted an invitation to play for the United States in the World Baseball Classic. When asked by U.S. manager Joe Torre to be on the club, Jones responded, "I said, "I'm an American,' in my best Toby Keith voice." Jones called Orioles manager Buck Showalter to get his blessing, and after Showalter agreed, the outfielder began his offseason workout routine a little early. Though rosters have not yet been finalized, Ryan Braun and Brandon Phillips are expected to be among Jones' teammates.

Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports that the Orioles could announce an extension with manager Buck Showalter early next week. Showalter and team principal owner Peter Angelos met several times last month, and they will do so again Friday in hopes of putting the finishing touches on a new deal. The new contract would add multiple years onto his existing deal, which is set to expire at the end of the 2013 season. Showalter led the Orioles to a 93-69 record in 2012 and finished runner-up to the A's Bob Melvin in the AL Manager of the Year voting.

Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports that the Orioles are nearing a contract extension with manager Buck Showalter. Showalter and team principal owner Peter Angelos met face-to-face this past week and "established parameters" for a multi-year deal, according to Connolly. The specifics are expected to be worked out before a contract is finalized sometime in January. Showalter's current deal is set to expire after the 2013 season. He led the Orioles to a 93-69 record in 2012 and finished runner-up to the A's Bob Melvin in the AL Manager of the Year voting.

Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports that the Orioles have agreed to a new contract with hitting coach Jim Presley. The Red Sox expressed interest in Presley for their hitting coach job, but he'll return for his third season with the Orioles. The O's will now try to work out a new contract with third base coach DeMarlo Hale, who has interviewed for the bench coach job with the Blue Jays.

Adam Jones plated the Orioles' lone run in Wednesday's season-ending, 4-1 loss to the Rays. The loss means the Orioles lose the American League East by two games to the Yankees, and must square off with the Rangers in a one-game "playoff" to determine the American League's wild card team. The showdown will be Friday evening in Arlington. As for Jones, the RBI was his 82nd of the season, putting him just one off his personal-best total from 2011. He finishes with a .287/.334/.505 slash. The average and slugging percentage are both new career highs.