Jones: "I still think we're going to have a very, very strong and formidable team"

Orioles center fielder Adam Jones talked to reporters for about six minutes today, enough time to comment on predictions that the club will finish in last place, free agent losses and the Dan Duquette saga.

Here's a sampling:

On being picked to finish last: "Cool. Weren't we supposed to finish last the last 4-5 years? Keep it that way. I think we like that. It's not bothering me. I know we've had a slow offseason due to (Nick) Markakis' departure, (Nelson) Cruz's departure, (Andrew) Miller's departure. I still think we're going to have a good team. I know we're missing some people who were key pieces to last year's team, but I still think we're going to have a very, very strong and formidable team. Still put forth that effort and do a lot in this division. I know we're going to miss some guys, but I think we're going to be fine."

On losing Markakis: "It's business. You understand it's business. We're still friends. That's not going to change. But he made a business move for himself and his family. I never question a man's decision to do things based on his family. It's good for him. I'll miss him. I know they come here in mid- or late July. I'm sure the Orioles fans are going to like that. But it was a decision he made for himself and I don't fault him one bit. I'm going to miss him, but I'll definitely still keep in contact with him."

On whether he followed the Duquette-to-Toronto rumors: "Not much, to be honest with you. I've kind of been away from everything. I heard a little bit. I don't get what's going on over there. I don't know what Dan's ideas are or what the Blue Jays want. I know to become a CEO of another team instead of a general manager is a lot higher job, but it's a good opportunity for him and his family. Obviously, we like him here. He's helped out this organization and rebuilt this organization, him and (Buck) Showalter. If it's a business move for himself and his family, I'll never question it."

On having Travis Snider in right field: "I've played against him for the last five or six years. Eager to see what he's going to bring to the team. I know what he can do, but I'm just eager to see what he's going to bring to the team."

More on being picked to finish in last place: "It doesn't matter to us. We don't pick. Who cares who picks? We've got to play the game and between the lines is where that all gets solved."

On getting Matt Wieters and Manny Machado back: "We're going to get them back healthy and we've still got a strong core of guys. We're going to miss some guys, but it's a business. We're going to show up and we're going to be good, so I'm not really concerned about all that. The effort level's going to be high and we're going to play the game right.

"I just think we need both those guys healthy. They're forces, they're All-Stars, so if we just get those two guys healthy, we'll be good."

On whether he's worried about morale: "No. And the offseason's not over yet. We got Cruz last year in February, we got Ubaldo (Jimenez) in February. I don't know how many guys are out there still, but there's still a lot of guys out there unsigned, and the longer they wait, the prices come down. I think that's what Duquette likes, those discounts."

On whether it was important for Duquette to address the situation today: "It's not my situation, it's his situation. It's his choice based on him and his family. I know he's a northeast guy, so being in Baltimore doesn't bother him, being in Toronto doesn't bother him. He was in Boston. It's his decision, it's not mine. The players, we're grown men. We understand what we have to do. The team's going to come together still no matter what, no matter who's at the helm. There's something already installed in us that we'll continue to use. If he's here, great. If he goes and pursues a great job, I'll never question that."

On whether he needs to take on more of a leadership role with Markakis gone: "Not really. I'm more vocal than him, but not really. I think the guys understand it. We're grown-ups. We understand the game, we understand the business of it. It's just going to be hard to miss him in our clubhouse, the consistency that he offered. I talked to B.J. Upton about it. I said, 'You're going to get one guy who's consistent every day.' That's the thing I'm going to miss."