Adam Jones drove in three runs with his fifth homer and a double Thursday against the White Sox. Is this the year Jones becomes a top fantasy outfielder? He's certainly looked the part so far with his .321 average, five homers and 11 runs scored. Also encouraging is that he has three steals already. Jones has very good speed, but his career high for steals is 12.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports that Adam Jones' name "keeps popping up in trade discussions with the Nationals," but "there's very little chance" the Orioles will trade him. The Nationals have been shopping for a center fielder for a while now, and Jones has been at or near the top of their list. They appear prepared, though, to go with Roger Bernadina and Rick Ankiel and occasionally Jayson Werth there for the time being. Jones will make $6.15 million this season and is slated to hit free agency after the 2013 campaign.

According to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, it would take at least a five-year offer for the Orioles to secure Adam Jones to a long-term extension this spring. The O's avoided arbitration with Jones earlier this week at $6.15 million. He'll be eligible for arbitration one final time in 2013 before potentially hitting the open market heading into 2014. The 26-year-old center fielder batted .280/.319/.466 with 25 home runs, 83 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 151 games last year for Baltimore.

Orioles and OF Adam Jones avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $6.15 million contract. Jones filed for $7.4 million and was offered $5 million by the Orioles when arbitration numbers were exchanged last month. It took a little more than three weeks for the two sides to reach a middle ground. Jones batted .280/.319/.466 with 25 home runs, 83 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 151 games last year for Baltimore. He's slated to become a free agent after the 2013 season.

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette told Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun that the club has had preliminary discussions with Adam Jones about a contract extension. "Yes, we have discussed a variety of different options," said Duquette. "But the goal right now is to get a deal for this year and avoid the hearing." Jones, who is arbitration-eligible for the second time this winter, filed for $7.4 million and was offered $5 million by the Orioles when arbitration figures were exchanged last month. The focus is reaching a one-year deal before a hearing on Friday, but more in-depth conversations about an extension could come later. Jones is under team control through 2013.

The Orioles and Adam Jones have an arbitration hearing scheduled for February 17. Jones, who is arbitration-eligible for the second time this winter, requested $7.4 million and was offered $5 million by the Orioles when arbitration figures were exchanged last month. There's still quite a bit of time before the scheduled hearing, so it's still possible that the two sides can reach a satisfactory agreement.

Adam Jones requested $7.4 million and was offered $5 million by the Orioles when arbitration figures were exchanged Tuesday. Jones earned $3.25 million last season while batting .280/.319/.466 with 25 home runs, 83 RBI, 12 stolen bases and a .785 OPS. The Orioles have yet to approach him about a contract extension, but we suspect it could come up as the two sides attempt to find a middle ground.

Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports that trade talks regarding Adam Jones "are intensifying again." Kubatko notes that he doesn't have specifics and that it "could mean that executive vice president Dan Duquette is fielding more calls and making counter proposals that are being rejected." The Orioles have not approached Jones about a contract extension and do seem willing to move him in the right deal. He doesn't become a free agent until after 2013, though, so it's not a necessity to negotiate a long-term deal at this point. The Braves have been the team most often linked to Jones.

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette confirmed Tuesday that the club hasn't approached Adam Jones about a contract extension. "We're not focused on that right now," said Duquette. Jones has been the subject of numerous trade rumors this offseason, despite Duquette saying that he's a player they would like to build around. Jones, 26, earned $3.25 million last season while batting .280/.319/.466 with 25 home runs, 83 RBI, 12 stolen bases and a .785 OPS. He is under team control through 2013.

Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports that the Braves never offered Jair Jurrjens and Martin Prado to the Orioles for Adam Jones. This disputes a report by Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. Bowman hears that the Braves did express interest in Jones earlier this month, but were told he was unavailable. The Orioles later called Braves and asked for Prado, Jurrjens and two other "premium guys" in exchange for Jones, a request which was quickly rejected. No recent talks have taken place between the two clubs.