As Dan Duquette keeps making little moves here and there, there’s been a lot of speculation on one pitcher – righty Edwin Jackson.
With the off-season down to its final few weeks, Jackson – in search of a long term contract with super-agent Scott Boras – is still without a team.
Reports have surfaced in the media that Jackson perhaps may go after a one year contract and try to re-enter the market next off-season for another pay day.
At only 28, Jackson has time to ponder his career long-term. He’s very talented, throws hard, authored a no-hitter with the Diamondbacks, and has a World Series under his belt with the Cardinals; however, he’s bounced around, been wildly inconsistent throughout his career and only has a career 60-60 record with a 4.46 ERA and a WHIP of 1.44.
His results on the mound – so far in the big leagues – are the definition of mediocrity.
Then again, Jackson was 12-9 last year with an ERA of 3.79 in 2011 – a tad better than his career numbers. He tallied 148 strikeouts and had a WHIP of 1.44.
I guess the question is: would Jackson come to Baltimore?
Only if he was desperate.
At this point, I would think that Jackson would want to join a contender, and that sure isn’t the Baltimore Orioles. On the other hand, I would think since he has been traded umpteen times in his career, he would want a long-term deal and some stability.
James mentioned over the weekend that the Orioles have an offer is for “either four guaranteed years or for three and an option.”
In addition, “Jackson seems to be deciding between taking the multi-year deal or taking a one-year contract from the Boston Red Sox.”
I would think the American League East would be a poor fit for his immediate goals, unless he joined a team like the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox – two teams with power offenses.
Basically, MASN’s Roch Kubatko mused on this topic in a post this morning:
Breaking news: The Orioles aren’t expected to sign Edwin Jackson.
In other news, Rhode Island isn’t a road or an island, and Billy Cundiff isn’t automatic from inside the 35.
The Orioles weren’t going to give Jackson more than three guaranteed years for the money he’s been seeking, and he wasn’t going to sign with them for one year and re-enter the free-agent market next winter. Not when he’s looking to pitch for a contender and improve his value. That’s been the case all along.
I think it’s time to wish him the best and stop trying to force him into the rotation.
(If I’m wrong, we never had this conversation. The Orioles did apparently make an offer. So … we’ll see. But it would be quite an upset if it happened.)
Also, the Sun’s Dan Connolly also adds his input.
Sadly, I don’t think Jackson will be in the black and orange unless Boras gets Baltimore to grossly overpay.
Right now, for the Orioles to make a move like this would go against everything Dan Duquette and the front office’s MO right now.
I would like to see the Birds take a risk on a pitcher like this, but I don’t see it happening.
