Major League Baseball

Jones inks 6-year, $85.5M contract

Published May. 27, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

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The Orioles, building on their early-season momentum have signed center fielder Adam Jones to a club-record contract extension.

Jones signed a six-year, $85.5 million contract with the Orioles on Sunday, ensuring that the 26-year-old center fielder will stay with the team through 2018.

The deal is well north of the two largest deals in team history — Miguel Tejada’s six-year, $72 million free-agent deal and Nick Markakis’ six-year, $66.1 million extension.

Jones was eligible for free agency after next season. He has emerged as a leader, offensive centerpiece and defensive stalwart for the Orioles. He enters Sunday with a 17-game hitting streak and leads the team with home runs and RBI.

Jones' new deal includes a $2 million signing bonus, $8.5 million in 2013, $13 million each in 2014 and 2015, $16 million apiece in 2016 and 2017 and $17 million in 2018. It also includes a no-trade provision.

Says Jones: ''There's a bigger goal here, I believe, and that's winning games.''

The Orioles acquired Jones before the 2008 season from Seattle.

The Associated Press contributed to this report