Jan. 23: Heyman tweets that Jackson will earn $3MM in each year of the deal. His 2019 base salary can rise by $1MM based on the number of plate appearances he tallies in 2018, and his 2019 salary can rise by $1.5MM based on that season’s plate appearance total.
Jan. 22: The Giants have announced the signing of outfielder Austin Jackson, as Jon Heyman of Fan Rag first reported (via Twitter). It’s said to be a two-year, $6MM guarantee, but the Octagon client can also escalate his 2019 salary by as much as $2.5MM if he meets certain plate appearance-based targets, as Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic explains on Twitter.
Jackson, who’ll soon turn 31, turned in a nice bounceback campaign in 2017 after three straight seasons of subpar offensive production. Over 318 plate appearances with the Indians, he posted a .318/.387/.482 batting line with seven home runs and three steals.
Though there’s obviously some promise in that output, it comes with a few caveats. On offense, Jackson benefited from a .385 batting average on ball in play that isn’t likely to be repeated. And his is wOBA of .378 widely outpaced his Statcast-based xwOBA of .335. (For what it’s worth, too, he mostly succeeded by dominating left-handed pitching. He has typically carried reverse splits, so it’s somewhat unclear how that ought to be interpreted.)
Importantly, too, Jackson is no longer a top-end asset in the field and on the bases. He has floated in range of average in both areas in recent years, but generally has graded as a slightly below-average fielder for the past several campaigns. It seems reasonable to believe he can still handle center, at least on a part-time basis, but he’ll surely be put to the test at the spacious AT&T Park.
[RELATED: Updated Giants Depth Chart]
There’s plenty of reason to wonder whether Jackson will be capable of coming close to repeating his output from 2017. But the contract seems to be a reasonable one for a player who has had success in both the recent and the more distant past. Certainly, the price is right for the Giants. This move dovetails with the team’s reported preference to fill out a roster without going past the luxury line.
As things stand, Jackson arguably sits atop the San Francisco depth chart in center field. That said, Giants GM Bobby Evans says that Jackson will “provide additional depth at all three outfield positions,” suggesting that the club does not expect to hand him the reins to the regular job in center. (Via John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle, on Twitter).
The question, then, turns to what other options the Giants have to round out their outfield mix. Internally, right-handed hitters include Gorkys Hernandez, Austin Slater, and Mac Williamson. While the first two of those players are capable of seeing time in center, they wouldn’t add much functionality beyond what Jackson provides, particularly since the team’s veteran corner outfielders — Hunter Pence and Andrew McCutchen — both hit from the right side. The lefty-swinging, out-of-options Jarrett Parker is another option, up the middle, though his recent output does not inspire much confidence.
So, what options remain for the Giants? If a golden opportunity arises to add a higher-end player, particularly a left-handed hitter, then perhaps a move past the luxury tax line could still occur. Alternatively, as Baggarly notes on Twitter, the club could chase a pre-arb player while staying just shy of the tax, though that’d presumably mean either taking a risk on a less-than-certain asset or giving up good value in return. Free agents like Ben Revere could still be pursued, but anyone achievable at a bargain rate likely won’t be a good enough performer to bump Jackson into reserve duties. Of course, the team also surely hopes that left-handed-hitting prospect Steven Duggar will prove himself ready for a MLB trial in relatively short order. If the team truly believes in him but also wants a more established player to open the season without bypassing the luxury line, it’ll have to get rather creative.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
I suppose they could have done worse.
Austin Jackson is a strike out machine
Maybe he should pitch then 🙂
Not who I was hoping for…….
Who were you hoping for?
Dyson, thought he would be perfect platoon partner for Hernandez.
Over 318 plate appearances with the Indians, Austin Jackson posted .318/.387/.482 batting line with seven home runs and three steals.
He only got 2 years $6M guaranteed (+ $2.5M incentives)
Boras is losing it lmao
The market sets the rate. If they’re all judging him based on his XwOBA or other varying stats than he’s going to be judged more on that. It’s like Chris carter all over again.
Get ready for some ugly swinging strike outs. Get deal getting 2 years for this guy Boras! He can’t handle the breaking pitch. Part time player on a decent team.
He is no longer a Boras Client, unless he switched back, which I doubt.
At the time, the article said “Boras Client” before it was quickly edited, but you are correct.
My Apologies for the mistake.
Regardless, still cheap *** contract for 2017 production and age (31 in one month)
Agreed.
The Boras reference was my mistake. That was his former agency.
You’re a good writer, Jeff Todd! Seriously – I always enjoy reading your articles.
I echo that sentiment. ^ No doubt, Jeff’s one of my favorite writers.
What do you think Boras/Jackson should have been looking for here, xabial? He’s a platoon player making part time money. As the Earl of Baltimore once said, “He’s lucky he’s in bleeping baseball.”
One year deal, Grandy contract in the $5M range.
Instead, he locked himself at a cheap $3m rate per year for 2 years. He’s ‘only’ 30, and turns 31 in February.
Career: +46.1 WAR (Fangraphs) +24.1 WAR (Bbref)
2017: +2.1 WAR (Fangraphs) +1.9 WAR (Bbref)
edit: Career +19.8* WAR (Fangraphs)
fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=9848&posit…
When has Jackson been worth as much as Granderson? The Grandy man hit forty homers and drove in over a hundred a couple of times. Granted, Jackson is the better defender at this point. But offense is where the money is made.
The Grandy Man is an aging star. Jackson is an aging role player. Compare their career numbers. These two players aren’t particularly similar. What did you see that I missed?
their 2017 WAR is similar. Grandy had +1.9 WAR, 2 teams, (Fangraphs)
AJax had +2.1 WAR. (Fangraphs) and +1.9 WAR (Bbref)
Grandy had +2.1 WAR (Fangraphs) and +1.5 WAR (Bbref)
Furthermore, The Grandy Man, has had a better career than AJax (By far– I mean, I should know, they were traded for each other, in that 3 team trade, after all 😉 )
But Grandy’s 36 (37 in March) and AJax’s 30 (31 in 1 month) Therefore, due to their similar 2017 productions (But Grandy’s older) their contracts should be a wash, but Grandy’s had a better career — by far–
My bad. Their 2017 production (WAR wise) are so similar, I’m mixing it up! 😉
Bbref was correct for both: (Grandy +1.5, AJax: +1.9 )
Fangraphs: Grandy had +2.1* WAR and AJax +1.8 WAR.
Regardless, my point still stands. Due to their similar 2017 productions, but Grandy’s older, their contracts should be a wash, even though Grandy’s had a much better career– by far.
That “much better career” should be factoring in to your projections for next year (and beyond). While Granderson isn’t likely to hit thirty HRs again, there’s a non-zero chance that he will. If Jackson hits thirty HRs it will be the first time he’s hit more than 16 in his career. (Just an illustration, I know HRs aren’t everything.)
“ . . . but Grandy’s older . . . “
Yes, significantly, but what does that mean here? One player is (probably) closer to the end of a much better career. Each player’s projected performance takes his age into account—it has to. It is still possible for the older player to (be projected to and actually) outperform the younger player. What does ZIPS project for each?
One, admittedly imperfect, measure of a player’s performance is the amount of compensation he is able to demand from prospective employers. Their career earnings indicate that MLB has valued Granderson as being worth ~ four times as much as Jackson, to this point in their careers. That sounds about right.
Granderson is a shell of himself. We are comparing two players that are so much a like right now. That is not a good thing for both players. AJ is younger but is about the same player and Granderson. Granderson could be a positive veteran leader. That is it – we are splitting hairs. Both these dudes are part time players.
He did that after 3 sub-par seasons. Without what he did last year, he might not of gotten anything above a minor league deal.
That may be right, and that’s why the Giants were able to get him as an inexpensive risk-on bet, who will be a good fit IF he pans out at all.
He’s Not with Boras. He’s w Octagon
He’s going to be our 4th OF. Baggarly tweeted he will be the 4th OF just like at Clev. Giants still looking for CF.
They don’t plan on making him the everyday CFer do they…?
these are the Giants, so yes
Nope, Baggarly tweeted he’s the 4th OF & they are still looking for a starting CF.
Very nice move! Defensive upgrade, right handed bat to offset the lefties. Makes them a more balanced team top to bottom!
As long as you don’t get the Mariner version of him. But I doubt they will, players almost always do better when they leave the Mariners.
*The White Sox version. Injured 2/3 of the season and ineffective the other 1/3.
I don’t want to say we would’ve made the playoffs had he performed like he was capable of but…. With Lomo and Ackley hot in the second half, with Seager and Cano producing consistently, I felt like if Jackson had solidified the lead off spot, we would’ve been in good shape.
That was an awful trade deadline imo for Jack Z. The Mariners easily would have made the playoffs if they had just traded Walker for Price(giving them a 1-2 punch of two cy young candidates). Should have traded for any almost any other shortstop that would be better than Brad Miller, Alexei Ramirez would have worked. And then should have traded for Matt Kemp. At the time they had all the prospects they needed to get it done in Walker, Paxton, Peterson, Franklin and Miller. They had the dominant bull pen, they just needed a starter to replace Ramirez and a right handed hitter.
Those trades would have set the Mariners way back about now, but they probably could have won the pennant with those additions. Denorfia and Jackson were horrible in 2014.
Hopefully this means they are staying under the luxury tax.
Why? They are flush with cash. You are pro-billionaire saving a few million?
Maybe he doesnt want ticket prices going up.
It’s San Fran, they’ll go up regardless. Jeff Passan at Yahoo Sports articulates how orgs getting fans to buy into the luxury tax threshold is basically a con better than I could. Read his stuff if curious.
So, instead, fans should identify with the “little guy”/poor working stiff…the multi millionaire ball players?
Pretty well off proletariat.
And for the record, the “luxury tax is basically a con” that Tony Clark and the MLBPA and it’s membership bought into…not the fans.
I’m with you – I don’t believe Passan’s argument.
Minor leaguers, coaches, staff, & young players are not even close to compensated given the cash flows involved. You’re just a thinking about players that make millions, which rare compared to the total. For example, AAAA guys are valuable to the sport and should be able to play without working in the offseason. The money distribution is not optimal for ensuring quality.
Passan is wrong. I’m a fan. You’re a fan. I don’t think either one of us is stupid, but Passan obviously does.
He thinks you and I can’t figure out all by ourselves that big, long term contracts to guys in their 30’s are a much of a risk to hurt our team’s ability to compete as they are to make the team better in the long term.
We’ve seen the Fielder, Howard, Ellsbury, Kemp, and many other deals restrict a teams ability to sign other players.
As a Phillies fan, if I thought 7 years to Darvish would work out, or even had a better than 50% chance of doing so, I would be screaming for Klentak to get the deal done – because the contract would extend through their next competitive window.
Fans aren’t stupid and Passan ought to stop pretending we are.
Lol ticket prices go up regardless of how much the players are paid. It’s called inflation.
And yes people I’d rather see the players make half the total revenue in this sport as they have since the 1994 lockout up until recently than the billionaire owners who have continued to take a bigger share as they have slowly over the last decade.
Do I think the total years guaranteed to aging stars was silly the last few decades? Yes, but the average annual value should still be high. Also the MLB Players Union needs to fight more for the low service members come next negotiations. I’d even fight for minor league players who often have to take a second job depending on their signing bonus.
The Union soldout and lost the last round of negotiations. 1994’s lasting impact isn’t being felt from the current owners.
I think it relates to the other penalties. Not the taxes. I believe that after a certain number of years you’re also penalized draft picks. But not totally sure.
No it’s the tax. To incur the draft pick penalties a team has to be way over, like $40M over. The Giants have been over the threshold for multiple seasons and simply want to be under for one year so the percentage of the penalty resets to 20%. Right now they’re at 50% which hampers their future spending.
totally, you don’t want to go into the next FA class paying 150%-
Oh cool, thanks for the clarification.
Also, the threshold rises to $206 mil next year. And % resets to 20% if under this year. So going over NEXT YEAR costs much less.
The seat prices aside, besides how much extra they have to pay depending on how much over the limit they are, the big thing is the loss of draft picks and international signing money.
Going over the lux tax is a big deal that some people who only see rich owners don’t understand.
Unlikely. Cots Contracts has them at $192 million without this contract. Still have to take into account bonuses and other additions during the year.
I believe the luxury tax is based on the AAVs of contracts. Not the current year’s totals.
No he quoted the AAV section of cots. Bonuses and other additions do play a role in the calculation of threshold tax. So they are close to having only 4.4M in free space not withstanding bonuses and other allocations.
Still have a feeling they’ll find away to shed salary if they need to get under $197 mil
They probably could, especially if they find themselves out of contention at the deadline. It really doesn’t matter that much though. They have plenty of money to cover whatever tax they’d have to pay and likely won’t be big players in next year’s free agency, so resetting the tax isn’t that big of a deal should they go over.
They are already under 197
Just because they’re under the limit now, doesn’t mean that they’ll stay under the limit by season’s end.
Seems like a decent move considering they’re current salary. Still seems suspect to me to inch closer to the luxury tax threshold when third place place in the division is their likely outcome.
…or fourth place.
… or second place and a wild card spot.
Not out of the realm of possibilities. D’Backs could easily regress, but I think the Giants will need a lot of good luck to make the playoffs.
They’ll need to stay healthy.
Except the giants seem comfortable with putting out the oldest roster in MLB. I guess going for it is the plan here for 1 last run at the playoffs. These players can’t play 162 any more so it’s a tight window they are shooting for.
Im on the wrong side of 32 and way past my prime too, so I must be a perfect fit to be a ball boy at bay then. Wow!!!
You should actually look at some numbers before making false claims. Last season the Giants were the 4th oldest in batting age, the M’s, Tigers, Angels, and the Jays all being older. In pitching age the Giants were only the 7th oldest with the Indians, Angels, Braves, Twins, Dodgers, Nats, Royals and Cubs all older.
By trading Moore, and having Stratton, Blach Beede, and Suarez competing for the #4 and 5 spots, and by trading Span for Longoria they are younger this year.
Of course, I don’t expect that you were actually trying to objective so don’ let the facts get in your way.
Rosters avg age in 2017 giants finished tied for 5th behind two teams who got younger braves and royals who got there by shedding veterans this offseason. So yes I do feel giants will be a top 3 oldest rosters in 2018.
Now my point is giants continue to make moves for the expensive years of players careers in a time when it seems youth is the way to win.
Obviously value and how contracts are structured for MLB players where they are paid in the rears for production; the 30 something’s as whole will not produce at their pay rate and the 20 something’s will not make the money they should 4 the production produced … that’s easy to see!
None the less the comment was to talk about the giants getting older and I’m not sure any of the giants projected starters will be under 30 years of age by the end of next season. On the field not including pitchers who also feature a well seasoned top 3 starters and backend of the bull pen too.
I just don’t think that’s a formula for winning this day and age
Specially at those key defensive positions like CF!
Like the giants and maybe have the best manager in the game but I am not buying it now or next few seasons either as they will only get older fast!
Wow take a breath
You said, “the oldest roster in MLB”. They were not and will be getting substantially younger with Cain and Moore being replaced by a pair of 27 year olds on the roster, Kontos and Osich replaced by Okert and Fernandez, and with Span gone and Longoria in. Before all is said and done Gorkys Hernandez and Parker could be gone replaced by Slater and Duggar.
They will not be the oldest roster in baseball.
Old team past it’s prime – Rockies and dodgers ahead on paper and on the field.
Giants will be lucky to keep up with the dbacks for 3rd in NL West!
Throwing money at older players in a desperate attempt to help a group that did well early in their career is not going to end well. I get the moves just don’t see with current roster!
It’s a very solid signing. He has that potential to be a good 2-3 WAR player if he can stay healthy. If the Giants fall from contention and he’s doing well he’s an easy to move contract.
So the Tribe lets yet another free agent walk away. Santana, Bruce, Smith, Shaw and now AJax. Not even an offer? Standing pat is one thing, letting good players get away is another. Hope they have something up their sleeve!
Santana, Bruce, Smith, and Shaw all got their payday. There’s no rational way to argue that the Indians could’ve been able to sign them. There’s simply too many arbitration and contract raises on their existing roster combined with being in a small market with poor attendance figures. They aren’t the Yankees or Dodgers and have the luxury to pay anyone they can. Plus if they have ANY chance to afford Lindor during his arbitration years or somehow manage to sign him to an extension, it would be extremely difficult with $50 mil locked up in the four players listed above annually.
As for Jackson, I’m shocked the Indians didn’t bring him back especially at that contract. Seems like an absolute steal to me. Their analytics dept. must not like Jackson’s chances of prolonged success.
Correct, very team friendly contract for AJax. But so was Jay Bruce’s. $13 mil x 3 yrs was a steal.
I agree, Bruce would’ve been a nice signing but I guess the Tribe still likes Chisenhall facing righties in RF. He did have a great year when healthy in 17. Retaining Bruce crowds that position with lefties when considering Zimmer and hopefully a healthy Brantley will be out there. Guyer and maybe Almonte are the only RH outfielders on the roster unless Upton Jr cracks the opening day team.
They also needed to fill the void of Santana being gone at 1B though and bringing Bruce back would’ve kept them from signing Alonso.
I’m not saying Alonso will replace Santana overall but they had to use FA to bring in a guy at first and the open market isn’t cheap. Hopefully his increased fly all rate equates to two years of solid power.
Overall I get the Indians logic when considering their financial situation. As others have said though the bullpen is thin and will be just about empty in 2019.
Jay Bruce signed for exactly what MLBTR predicted.
Really shocked they didn’t bring Jackson back since I’m sure he made some of his 4M incentives and probably puts him close to the 3M AAV guarantee that he signed for.
The Indians don’t have the money to sign these guys
So far they’ve only added Yonder Alonso, and I’m NOT going to count Melvin Upton Jr’s minor league deal as an acquisition. Need some bullpen help still, but the shelves are getting a little bare in the relievers department. Would have helped a lot if CLE could have found a taker for Kipnis’ contract.
You have nothing to worry about with the Tribe’s bullpen.
Even if there are injuries, Morimando, Clevinger, Plutko and Merryweather are ready to go in the wings
Fits their 30 and above love
Do you think it’s easy to sign a bunch of 25 year old FA’s?
Giants finally landed a CF……sorta. Jackson does his best work in a platoon situation. Not durable enough to play every day. He was probably like the 4th or 5th name down on their wish list, but they spare themselves the luxury tax burden and the inevitable buyer’s remorse from signing Lorenzo Cain for too much $$$$ and too many years.
Good take, Solaris. I believe It was reported though, that Ajax was actually number two on their CF free agent wish list. He’s an inexpensive dice-roll who fits their situation well.
Was hoping for John Jay strictly for his OBP but, if they really believe in Duggar I suppose it’s not bad signing.
I mean basically dyson with less speed
But much better defensively
Ajax is better than dyson defensively now?
Nope
Except Jackson can hit
Dyson bats left and doesn’t hit lefties…Ajax bats right and does hit lefties.
Didn’t a guy mention this in an earlier comment on a different post? I’d like his sources….
I did indeed. Somebody who works in the front office is a client of mine.
Baller move.
So what are we thinking for a lineup, folks?
Panik
Cutch
Longo
Posey
Belt
Crawford
Pence
Jackson
P
When healthy.
Man that lineup would’ve been sick like four years ago
exactly
1. Panik 2.Cutch 3. Posey 4. Longoria 5. Belt 6. Pence 7. Crawford 8. Jackson/Slater/Duggar
Duggar isn’t on the 40 man roster and probably won’t be unless they move Parker, Hernandez, and Williamson.
Would be very happy to see Gorkys and Parker given a chance on another team.
He has a spring invite and he will be on the 40 man before the end of spring mark it down
So you are saying that Gorkys Hernandez and Parker will be cut or traded and Williamson sent down to the minors? Not that that is a bad thing. It’s not. Just want to be clear about what you are saying.
1. Old
2. Old
3. Old
4. Older
5. Old
6. Done
7. Over rated
8. Not. Gonna. Help
One bad year and they’re all old. You’ll be proved wrong tinsley
Bad year and a half!
Replace ‘Mets’ with ‘SF Giants’ You’re ‘mikeyank’ to Giants.
Panik is 27, Cutch 31, Posey 30, Belt is 29, Longoria is the old man at 32. Is that really that old?
Do we think 26-year-old free agents are ripe for the plucking or trade bait with the Giants weaker farm system? A lot of the guys had down years, sure, and contending in the NL West may be tough but I wouldn’t place the blame on age.
Exactly what is this 30-33 year old guy is old crap.. I don’t by it period.
1B – 29
2B – 27
SS – 31
3B – 32
LF – 34
CF – ?? AJ is a 4th OF so we don’t know yet. Maybe Duggar at 24?
RF – 31
C – 31
I can’t find any 26 year old FA this offseason. Have you seen one? Next year we have two and they will cost $350-450 million each to sign.
That’s not the lineup
1. Jackson/Duggar
2. Panik
3. Mclutchen
4. Posey
5. Longoria
6. Belt
7. Pence
8. Crawford
I could swear earlier someone said this would happen here
They did on the darvish post about the 5 year deal. I was about to go look and see who it was.
It was snotrocket.
He got the contract exactly correct also so it wasn’t just guessing.
the Giants are being put together like an Al Bundy workbench
Cute, but clueless.
My favorite episode.
Terrific. No more articles about Cain going to the Giants
No … this was not the answer. Yelich was the answer and you needed to find a way to make that happen. This is not an upgrade over Span… probably a huge step backwards when you look at the results this fall. Very disappointed!
What? You can’t be serious.
Yelich was never going to happen. Tell me a package the Giants could have offered to acquire him? The Marlins are asking for an arm and both legs. A value signing like this was all they were ever going to do.
still conceivably could add Yelich and keep Jackson for a 4th OF role, like Blanco did all those years, obviously the Marlins will want more than they did for Stanton, but it could still be done.
lol
Remember there’s a pot pharmacy on every corner in that part of the country.
Giants have absolutely nothing to offer for Yelich. Heliot Ramos is all they have and he is not even halfway to yelich
the cupboard is bare and the wallet is closed
Bargain basement shopping. The Fire Sale begins. Panic in Playerville
Huh?
They just traded for Longoria, and McCutchen.
They may be in denial, as far as competing goes, but certainly No fire sale anytime soon. AJax is a solid signing, and price is hardly prohibitive. (2 years $6M guaranteed)
Longoria and McCutchen are has beens.
“They may be in denial,as far as competing goes”..a huge understatement.
“AJax is a solid signing”..yea to a competitive team needing a fifth outfielder,maybe.
Another old guy. Bobby Evans sucks
30 about to turn 31.
Giants have him for age 31-32 seasons.
Nope.
30 years is now “old”? At this rate players are going to have to retire before they are of the legal drinking age.
Growing up years and years ago, we were always told a players prime is from 28 to 32, now all anyone says is that the Giants are old and past their prime. I say forget that (edited for posting purposes) these guys still have a couple years left in them. Enough time to bring up their young guys like Ramos, Duggar and see what they already have in Slater.
TWO thumbs up for this take.
Have fun being up your less than mediocre farm.
That take is for players that were good at 28 and Jackson was far from that.
It’s just that we’ve seen that drop off in production from those “old” players. They definitely aren’t still in their prime. Doesn’t mean they can’t help them win and put up some decent numbers though. The guys they acquired have been around a long time too. Lot of games on them. I don’t know if it makes a difference to be a 31 year old like Charlie Blackmon who hasn’t really played that many seasons in the MLB v a guy like longo who has been grinding out entire seasons forever. I wish them the best of luck though, why not take one more crack at it.
That was said about the farm team when they brought up lincecum, Cain, posey and mad bum
The mediocre farm system also produced Romo, Duffy, panik, Crawford, Sandoval and Belt
Hardly any “young” guys are ever in their FA years. Most players hit FA around 29 to 30 by the time they get through their arbitration years. Harper and Machado are the exception to the rule because they came up young.
Bobby Evans and his boss are part of the FO team that gave you three WS wins in 5 years…
Yeah, he sucks (scsm)
Defense in OF with Cutch, pence, jackson sounds pretty bad unless Jackson is much better at D than I expect.
Jackson is a good defender and Mccutchen should improve his defensive play moving to a less demanding corner spot. It probably still will be a bad defending outfield though
CJ and Goat: I think they’ll be average on D. That’s WAY better than last year – and good enough for me.
RF for the Giants is tough! Almost like a CF for some other clubs !
i can’t stand that not likely to be repeated crap. good article, but not likely to be repeated. how’s that?
Noooooooo !!!!!! Why couldn’t they do the stupid move and trade for albatrossbury ? 🙁
Well I guess we are stuck with a 20 million dollar bench player
I feel your pain, but as a Giants fan, I”m happy-to-your-sad. 🙂
Fun Fact: The next game Austin Jackson plays, will be the 1,000th of his career.
(Currently 999 GP)
Pretty cheap for Jackson a 102 career OPS+ outfielder with speed.
We need defense more than anything for centerfield….the Mets have a top 3 defensive centerfielder with a gold glove on their bench and a need at 2nd base…
We could have traded Panik for Lagares and a prospect and signed Howie Kendrick for the keystone for a million more than Jackson
Then there would be a gold glove CF and a comparable 2B to what we had…
Just my humble opinion
Legares is making much more than Panik. The 3mm difference would mean that they couldnt afford Kendrick.
I think the Giants are somewhat counting on Duggar to be part of a (possible platoon) mix in CF – at some point this season. He’s a lefty bat and he has plus-defender potential
Maybe you’d get tomlinson but you’d have to add alot more than lagares to get panik. panik is one of the better all around 2b out there. Gold glove caliber , hits for average and pop, doesn’t strike out, good base runner.
Good move for the Giants to make one last run, but if these guys don’t make the wild card it will be a failure on their part. They will have to rebuild. This team reminds me of the 2008-09 Phillies, better hope it’s 2008
This team in no way is similar to the Phillies, tigers or any team people have tried to compare them too. They have won 3 World SERIES not one not zero you don’t just dump a group of players who have contributed more to the team and city then any other group and if you compare them to anyone it’s the Yankees of the 90s who kept there core together and eventually won another ring. 3. WORLD SERIES THIS DECADE HOW MANY HAS YOUR TEAM WON THIS CENTURY.
This isnt the 90’s. The rules are different, and the Yankees had more $$$ to work with.
The rules don’t prevent you from keeping your core players together who have won multiple championships.
98 losses.
Well they should improve by winning 5-10 more games this season. Lookout Padres here come the Giants.
i.e. you’re living in the past and happy wit it
That is complete blasphemy to Jeter and the boys pal!!
Phillies were not comparable. And that comparison is not original. Tired of hearing it.
The average batting age of the ’09 Phillies was 31.2 and the ’17 Giants was 29.5. The average pitching age of the ’09 Phillies was 31.3, and the ’17 Giants was 28.9. Big difference.
That guy snotrocket must have known what he was talking about on the Darvish thread earlier.
Almost like he had some inside information…
They just need to offer a small contract to Revere for platoon duties, and they have a decent outfield. In 2 years, hopefully Ramos and Duggar should be ready to take over duties in the outfield, at which point Pence and Cutch will be gone. They might be able to trade Belt on the last 2 years of his contract (signed through 2021) to make room for Shaw (24 y.o.) and bring in some prospects while off-loading some money. They need to clear room to bring Bumgarner. back in 2020.
now sign Dyson and you have a nice little plattoon
The platoon is going to be with Duggar.
oops did not realize Dugger was a lefty
Don’t need another lite hitting OFer
Another reminder of that crazy trade. Scherzer and Jackson to the Tigers, Ian Kennedy to Arizona, and Granderson to the Yankees. A Detroit heist.
Everyone did OK in that trade. Grandy helped the Yanks get a ring and Diamondbacks made the playoffs.
Grandy never helped ring with NYY :/ (But I really wanted him to)
He played for NYY 2010-2013, and NYY last won 2009.
Granderson was everything we could’ve asked for, as a person and player. 41 HR in 2011, 43 HR in 2012, and got hit by a pair of pitches that saw him play 61 games in 2013, putting him in Mets’ price range.
Grandy never won* a ring with NYY : (
If only he arrived one year sooner… 😉
My bad don’t know what I was thinking. That trade was a positive for all three teams though. Thanks.
I don’t understand why all these articles about the Giants OFers continues to exclude Austin Slater. I’m not saying he’s going to be starting in CF, but they just talked about no hitting Gorkys and Parker (who needs to find a new home) Slater when healthy was much better then those guys have ever been in the majors.
Agreed Sabean said if season started today Duggar would be starting CF and Slater would be 4th outfielder. So signing Jackson looks like a platoon signing with Duggar and Slater taking the corner spots.
My guess is this signals that the Giants expect Duggar and/or Slater to contribute in CF this season. I like the signing, but it’s hard to believe they’re thinking of Jackson as the everyday guy in center.
Evans confirmed that Jackson was signed for OF depth which, realistically, means he’ll fill in for Pence during his annual DL stint(s). I like the idea of giving Slater every opportunity to win the CF job in spring training. Need young legs to patrol that pasture on a daily basis.
Considering Pence is an injury waiting to happen and Cutch might need some days off, I believe Jackson will be playing almost daily but not always in CF. The Giants might really be serious about getting Duggar some ABs.
No real place on the roster for Duggar unless they move someone.
As of today, they have 4 outfielders, Slater, Williamson, Parker, and Hernandez on the 40 man roster. Slater and Williamson have options, so they can be sent down. Parker and Hernandez do not.
Duggar is not on the 40 man roster, so until they make room for him, he will have to stay in the minors.
Williamson, Parker, and Hernandez have all proven to be not great. Any of them should be expendable at this point.
It is not difficult to add to 40 man and it is not difficult too add to the 25 Rutledge, Hanson are not on the 40 man either both will be at spring training and so will Duggar. The players on 40 man now are the ones we needed to protect or were left there from last season moving a player within the organization is not difficult.
It’s not hard to imagine Parker or Williamson clearing waivers to make room for Duggar.
I agree. Hopefully Pence can stay healthy and give us one last hurrah – but I wouldn’t bet on it. Definitely rooting for him to do so though – one of the best Giants of all time, when you include his intangibles. – not to mention his two WS champion teams.
This is a great deal for the Giants. Jackson is a very good complimentary player who at $3,000,000 provides excellent value.
So their OF is now Pence, Jackson, McCutcheon with Slater, Parker, Williamson, and Hernandez on the bench or in the minors and Duggar in AAA.
That is a huge step up from 2017.
Sounds like they may be making additional moves to clear some of the excess and make room for Duggar, especially since Parker and Hernandez don’t have options.
It’s tiring to read all the posts about this aging roster. Age 30/31 seasons are still prime production opportunities, typically productive and that’s where most of their lineup, rotation and bullpen are on opening day. The age bias pendulum has swung too far the other way for many in this community. It strikes me that Evans has made lemonade from what was a very uncompetitive group last year. Uncompetitive because of unlikely spate of injuries and zero depth. The complaining over age is absolutely correct looking forward to 2020. But it’s quite probable the Giants can compete for a wildcard in 18 and
I agree. It’s a false narrative to begin with. Some poor misguided soul above proclaimed the Giants to be the oldest team in baseball. They aren’t. Plus if you look at the youngest and oldest teams The older teams tend to be the most competitive. The Nats, Dodgers, Twins, Indians, and Cubs, all playoff teams, had an older average pitching age older than the Giants. Only 3 of the youngest 15 teams in average pitching age went to the PS.
The 5 youngest teams in batting age were the Padres, Phillies, White Sox, Twins, and Reds. The concept that young = good, and old = bad, is about as simplistic approach as you can get. And we all know, or should, that baseball is anything but simplistic, at least in its analysis.
I for one compliment the Giants for actually trying to win ballgames in 18/19 seasons. They added a lot of talent without spending heavily and haven’t greatly impacted their minor league system. The system doesn’t have many blue chippers and the Giants are 3-time champions this decade with a group that has delivered when they’ve reached the playoffs. They’re better positioned to win in 18 compared to 2010. Play the games and compete. Then blow it up in 20 knowing they tried to maximize the run with this core group of multiple year champions.
Amen to that. And I’m pretty sure the Dodgers, D’backs, and Rox would all much prefer the Giant’s throwing in the towel instead – especially the later two.
This core still has 3-5 years left to really try to get at least one more hope they are given the opportunity to finish there careers here like Cain Hudson Zito hell we should be getting Lincecum back too if he really can throw again we brought back Pablo why not.
then I can break out my “Let Timmy Smoke” T-shirt
Well two/three years and with being all in they did not cover CF. If they really wanted to improve they should get Hamilton as you can not improve ‘O’ and give up that ‘O’ with bad ‘D’.y
You should be writing stuff like this for Conan…
Take THAT Dodgers.
Take what? Another has been? Yeah, ok.
More like a never was..
Dodgers outfield is light-years better than the Giants
both giants and dodgers records are the same, both tied for first.
This should silence those Yankee fans from writing how the Giants need to trade for Ellsbury.
Giants are comical! What a joke.
1) McCutchen Bench: Of Slater
2) Panic. Of Parker
3) Posey. Inf. Tomlinson
4) Belt. Inf. Panda
5) Longoria C. Hundley
6) Crawford
7) Pence
8) A-Jax
Yeah, how awful…
– 4 gold glove infielders plus Belt
– 2 potentially top end starters plus Shark
– 1 former MVP outfielder
– added depth in of
– elite closer returning to health
Far better team than your so called joke. If the joke is a team that has a full trophy case compared to the 30 straight years of that phenomenal production in those other NL West cities then HA HA HA! Love our style of comedy.
And there still going downhill…
What’s the best site to use to find current payrolls? Frankly a lot of people on this site should be asking it sense it seems most have no idea there team won’t go over 197 mil for this year.
According to Cot’s the Giant’s estimated payroll room before this signing was 4,462,877. They should be good, and if not, they are so close they can fix it mid-season.
Here’s a link to the Google sheet from Cot’s site:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FPqQ67n_0T1niTkaJj…
iverbure, this one’s my favorite for all 30:
Look, they even updated the Austin Jackson signing,
legacy.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/nl…
@xabial that’s the same site. I just linked directly to the sheet embedded on the site.
You know the market is sad when an Austin Jackson signing draws this many posts…
Could still see them bringing in Dyson. They can platoon in CF and whoever is on the bench on a given day can come in for Pence in the late innings for defense (or Dyson comes into CF and Jackson shifts to LF).
So underrated. Only 6M for 2 yrs for a guy that ht .318 last year. Great move by the giants.
small sample size. previous three years not nearly as good.
Wow, I love the contradiction of that comment. All everyone is talking about is how RECENTLY the giants haven’t performed (1.5 yrs I’m reading) and ignoring the great success preceding the last year and a half.
They pickup a guy who hit .318 LAST YEAR (inside that 1.5 yr time frame) and the comment is made about his average years prior to last year.
So whatever the criticisms are, justifications can be found.
Contradiction contradiction
Not a bad move at all. If Duggar has a great spring then Parker probably gets DFA’d to make 40 man room. It’s short it’s cheap, what’s not to like
It’s a step in the right direction that SF didn’t default to Gregor Blanco. Blanco is actually still in the mix, but he now bats right, isn’t as sharp defensively, and is named Gorkys Hernandez.
A marginal signing to say the least. About as exciting as Craig signing with the Padres.