MetsBlog.com reader Jodel Leneus asked: “I was wondering why Edwin Jackson isnt talked about more as an option for the Mets as a starter. He’s fairly young at 28 years old and has pitched four seasons of 200 innings. With Mark Buehrle signing for 4 years $58 million maybe the mets could offer 3 years $30-36 million dollar range. There is no guarantee that Johan Santana will be back on time next season or at all. they have to get a viable proven big league winner on the staff!”
There are a few concerns I have with Jackson. First off, he is a two-pitch pitcher (hard fastball and slider) and while he has shown to have command of those pitches, I worry he will eventually need to develop a third (and potentially fourth) pitch to keep the opposition from adjusting to his stuff as it diminishes with age. Second, why has Jackson been traded five times since 2006? That makes me wonder if he comes with personal issues which teams are choosing to eventually not deal with.
As far as a potential contract is concerned, I don’t see Sandy Alderson committing beyond two years for any free agent starting pitcher, at least right now. Mark Buehrle’s contract for four years, $58 million with the Marlins might have set a higher bar for Jackson, which is something few teams seem to be flirting with at the moment.
Jackson, 28, just completed a two-year, $13.35 million contract he signed with the Diamondbacks in February, 2010. He went a combined 12-9 with a 3.79 ERA in 199 2/3 innings with the Diamondbacks and Cardinals in 2011, and went 1-1 with a 5.61 ERA in three postseason starts for St. Louis this past October. He is 60-60 with a 4.46 ERA in 203 appearances and 173 starts in nine big league seasons with the Dodgers, Rays, Tigers, Diamondbacks, White Sox, and Cardinals.
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