Showalter on Jones and last night's controversy (O's down 4-3)

The drama surrounding Adam Jones extends beyond the possibility of a trade by Tuesday's non-waiver deadline and whether he'd be willing to re-sign with the club over the winter.

Would he remain in center field this season if he isn't dealt?

The Orioles have Cedric Mullins waiting in the wings - or actually at Triple-A Norfolk.

"I think Adam's always willing to do what's best for the club, but he still plays center field well," said manager Buck Showalter. "The respect that I have for that ... but it has to be something that's in our best interest long-term.

"Adam and I have talked about that. He's a smart guy. He knows. One of his closest confidants, I think, is Torii Hunter. He knows how this all works. But he also knows you're at a time when guys when they come up here, they may just need at-bats. Depends on what the future's going to hold for everybody.

"Right now I just want him to stay focused on tonight's game, which he will, and when a decision comes, he needs some advice, he knows ... I don't think he will. I think timing's everything. I've dealt with a lot of situations similar to this, but we're not there yet."

Showalter has made it clear that he views Jones as a nice fit on a rebuilding club.

"I think Adam will be good in any situation," Showalter said. "Adam's very adaptable. I know there's nobody who likes to win more than him."

Their conversations also have touched on the trade discussions. The Indians, Giants and Phillies have been linked to him.

"As far as talking to him, you can't not talk to Adam," Showalter said. "I mean, Adam is an engaging guy. Heck, we actually talked about it last night. Talked to him on the plane, talk to him all the time. He knows.

"Adam's not a guy who really needs a lot of advice. He's got it wired, he's been doing this a long time. He knows the arteries of decisions, I call them. Instead of just going, 'We're going to do that,' you've got to think about all the things it means. I think Adam is pretty realistic guy, but also the right kind of stubborn. The right kind. He'll stand up for what he thinks is right. We'll see.

"I guarantee if I was a club in contention, I'd be wanting an Adam Jones on my club."

The club still hasn't approached Jones about waiving his 10-5 rights to veto a trade.

"There's going to be some discussions soon," he said, "because I guess I am next in line to get off the books."

Jones said the interest in him from other teams is "cool, it's flattering."

"It's like the first day of school when you wear that outfit and you see what interest everybody has in you, who's flirting with you and what not," he said.

"It's uncommon territory. I've never been in a situation where my name has been mentioned in trades since 2011 with the Braves or something. It's definitely uncommon territory, but, it's the business."

For more on Jones' interview, click here.

The Orioles and Rays took batting practice uninterrupted this afternoon under a mostly blue sky. The sun is out and the forecast is much more favorable than the first three nights of the homestand.

Showalter said he wasn't aware until this morning that the Red Sox were angry about the handling of last night's game. Specifically, that it was allowed to start with a storm approaching. Manager Alex Cora vented to reporters and starter David Price, who retired the only three batters he faced, marched out of the clubhouse without consenting to an interview.

"I didn't hear about it until this morning, which doesn't surprise me," Showalter said, rapping his knuckles on the table while attempting to measure his words.

"MLB called the game off. I don't know what the ... MLB called the game. We don't control that. So if they've got a beef, they need to talk to MLB, right? I don't know. What's the deal? At least it wasn't sleeting the whole game."

Showalter was referencing an April matchup in the freezing rain at Fenway Park, with a few of his players wearing ski masks in an attempt to stay warm.

"They say play, we play," Showalter continued. "I see all the diligent, unbelievable work that goes in to trying to predict weather. They do a great job. Last night was a tough one.

"Really, if you looked at it coming in, to play two out of three days, what a job done by Nicole (Sherry, head groundskeeper) and her crew. Anyway, they're looking at the same radar we (are) ... They control it, MLB and the umpires do. They say we're going to call it, you call it and work on the reschedule.

"Obviously, I have a lot more deeper feelings about it. For those of us who have been around some of the history of things and other places. It's part of the job, it's not always fair. I'm sure they felt very confident last night. They're a good club. A very good pitcher."

Showalter assumed as he left the ballpark that the game would be made up on the Aug. 13 off-day, but it's part of a day-night doubleheader on Aug. 11.

"So Boston came back and agreed to that?" he said. "They must have changed their mind."

Update: Kevin Kiermaier led off the fourth inning with a double, the first hit allowed by Alex Cobb, and he scored on Jake Bauer's single to break a scoreless tie. Bauer scored with two outs on Ji-Man Choi's single for a 2-0 lead.

Update II: Jonathan Schoop has homered in four straight games, his two-run shot in the fifth tying the game 2-2.

Update III: Cobb was charged with four runs, three of them earned, in six-plus innings and the Orioles are down 4-2.

Adeiny Hechavarria had an RBI single and Jhan Mariñez's throwing error with two outs let another run score.

Update IV: Chris Davis homered off Sergio Romo in the eighth to reduce the lead to 4-3.