The center fielder is a good defender, which affords insurance for Adam Eaton’s shoulder rehab, but one also wonders whether the left-handed bat that would complement right fielder Garcia might belong to Eaton.
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The 29 year-old Jackson has been on the radar of scores of Sox fans and writers since the elsewhere-signings of free agent outfielders Yoenis Cespedes, Justin Upton and Alex Gordon.
Jackson, who hit for a.267/.311/.385 line between the Seattle Mariners and the Chicago Cubs past year, will be considered for a starting role with the outfield-hungry White Sox. “His addition to the roster provides Robin with additional flexibility from both a defensive and offensive standpoint”.
Over 164 postseason plate appearances, Jackson has a. 220 average and.
“Most of, if not all of, Austin’s time will come in center”, Hahn said.
“Obviously a high-quality defensive player out there”, Hahn said. According to Fangraphs, Jackson earned a 7.2 UZR rating as an outfielder in 2015 compared to the -10.2 UZR from Eaton, so the upgrade would be large. “And we expect him to have opportunity to blossom into the player many people feel he can become”.
The signing gives the White Sox more depth at a position in which it was sorely needed and further safeguards against injuries. Adam’s expressed a willingness to do whatever we need that day.
“Austin provides us with another talented outfield option”, White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. Hahn also indicated that current center fielder Adam Eaton is open to moving around while still spending some time in center himself.
“We’ll let the lineups take care of themselves the next several weeks. It’s about getting the right guys in the right position to win that night’s ballgame”. The biggest problem for Jackson was that he and his agent were looking for way too much money and they wanted a guarantee that he would get to play everyday to build his value back.
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Jackson’s arrival on the South Side creates an outfield logjam that will likely spill into the designated-hitter spot.
