The Giants have traded right-handed reliever Jay Jackson to the Braves in exchange for cash or a player to be named later, per a pair of team announcements. San Francisco designated Jackson for assignment on Friday while setting their 40-man roster prior to the Rule 5 protection deadline. Fellow right-hander Yoan Lopez was designated for assignment in a corresponding move, per the Braves.
Jackson, 34, has found new life in the big leagues after a strong four-year run with the Hiroshima Carp in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. He’s been with the Brewers and the Giants since returning, most recently pitching to a 3.74 ERA with an impressive 31.3% strikeout rate in 21 1/3 innings for San Francisco last season. Jackson also averaged 94.8 mph on his heater, pairing that with a sizable 13.3% swinging-strike rate. Those numbers are impressive, to be sure, but Jackson has also struggled with his command at times, walking 13.5% of his opponents since his return from NPB.
Command issues notwithstanding, Jackson makes for a solid, low-cost pickup for the reigning World Series champs. In addition to a good run with the Giants’ big league club last year, he also posted a 1.29 ERA with a gaudy 24-to-1 K/BB ratio in 14 Triple-A frames in 2021. And, despite the fact that he’s 34 years old, Jackson still has a minor league option remaining, so he can give the Braves a good bit of flexibility in the bullpen.
The 28-year-old Lopez was traded from Arizona to Atlanta in a late-May deal that sent minor league outfielder Deivi Estrada to Arizona. Lopez had a solid run in Triple-A Gwinnett, tallying 32 2/3 innings of 3.03 ERA ball with a 26.7% strikeout rate and an 8.4% walk rate in that time.
Once a high-profile international signing by the D-backs, Lopez has only tallied 101 2/3 innings in the big leagues to this point. He carries a 4.25 ERA with a solid 7.7% walk rate but a below-average 19.1% strikeout rate. The Braves will have a week to trade Lopez, place him on outright waivers or release him.
Who?
You are up there with Metsfan22 on the obnoxious scale.
muted
You guys are harping on his comment way too hard. He literally said a 3 letter word. If you read between the lines it was really just a harmless joke. By “Who?” I’m pretty sure he meant who cares. The point he was making is these 2 pitchers are both relative nobodies in the sport and it’s highly unlikely this trade will result in anyone reaching the obvious goal of winning a championship. He was kind of poking at them for being fringe players but he wasn’t even really rude about it. I’m sure both the pitchers involved would tell you they expect most people to say “Who?” when their names are mentioned amongst others who are super famous and make hundreds of millions of dollars. I don’t think he meant any harm by it and I don’t think he was actually asking people to tell him who they are.
This is not ESPN. If you are only interested in big dollar FAs, go there.
@Giants74: I agree with you. I think MLBTR should have posted this article and I would personally be disappointed if they didn’t. The man made a 4 character light hearted joke though. It’s just not that big of a deal. No one is saying MLBTR shouldn’t have posted this and no one is saying they only want to read about big name players. To me it looks like nothing more than a playful jab at the players for their irrelevance. People should be able to do that without having several people jump down their throat about it. I personally am a big proponent of freedom of speech and if a guy can’t say the word “Who?” on the internet without people bashing him about it something has gone really wrong.
@The Mets “Missed WAR”
Why are they “relative nobodies”. People that make it even to AAA are not “nobodies”, they are professional athletes. The level of disrespect from wasters that have probably never even reached rookie ball or can’t swing a bat, and you’re calling others “nobodies”. It’s really pathetic.
So in other words….who?
I was thinking the same thing. I have no idea who either of these guys are. Right handed middle relievers have to be some of the least valuable players in the sport.
Why do people love proudly expressing their ignorance?
“Who?” The link to the player and the following paragraph, literally explain who.
So, why are you on here? This site has always been for transactions. You are are going to hear a lot of names you never heard of before. Their names link to their stats sheets.
Won’t be on the 40 man when they sign some free agents. Good depth for AAA though.
forgot they even still had Lopez on their 40
A return to Milwaukee. Good luck JJ.
If nothing else, adding Jackson to the 40 man and removing Lopez raises the floor. I have a feeling he could be a fairly legit piece though if given an opportunity.
From seeing Jackson pitch a few times, I’ve actually thought he’s had some pretty solid stuff. I think Jackson could definitely be effective first getting groomed in lower leverage situations. Then, once he gets comfortable ajd continues doing well, Snit can start using him more towards the 7th inning coupled with Puke as another RH option he can turn to..
This is a precursor before Braves sign Seiya Suzuki.
Jay Jackson was teammate with Suzuki in 2018.
Good knowledge.
@8ManLineupNoPitcherNoDH TrumpChop+Charles Barkley’s Guarantee Now he’s answering his own posts with two different usernames. Mental illness is a big issue.
As a Giants fan. I liked him. Was hoping he would be back.
yeah me too he was both a decent bullpen guy and a great clubhouse guy
Again, don’t care unless it’s a announcement that they resigned Freeman. All other news is just noise. Will care later.
Are we supposed to care that you don’t care?
Did you get from his comment that he really wants YOU to care about him not caring? Because that sounds a little self-absorbed.
Yeah. Why bother commenting that you don’t care about baseball transactions on a site that is all about baseball transactions?
Are we supposed to care that he doesn’t care that you care that we care that he said he doesn’t care that he cares…. Just saying
Agree 100%
Good for the Braves, I’ll be watching from afar.
Jay Jackson is a absolute joy to watch pitch. He’s definitely somebody to root for. If he can correct his command issues, he will be a absolute great pickup.
Anthopoulos does nothing but make winning moves.
Hse good but he ain’t batting 1.000
Lol @Cole Hamels
Not a single gm in any sport in the history of any sport has ever batted 1.000 on there moves. Sooo your not saying much
He may not be batting 1.000. Not expected to. But he is clearly on the top side of .500, and hit almost perfect this seson rebuilding the OF from nothing. If all he does now is resign Freddie, I’ll be happy till the trade deadline
Let it be known that Jackson was also teammates with Seiya Suzuki and the Braves, according to a source, are “heavy suitors” for Suzuki. Coincidence? Maybe…maybe not.
Cool two Jackson’s for the pen.
I don’t buy the Braves landing him.
Ya, but there’s lots of Carp in the sea….
Was referring to the report as a whole when I said don’t care. Great the Braves got help in the bullpen. Just wondering what AA and the rest of the brass are doing to close the gap to keep Freddie in a Braves Uni.
I’m sure they are working on it and want to get it done. Still until they do or ( sadly ) don’t all the talk of signing guys to millions of dollar deals seems almost silly sounding.
Trying to figure out what the FO is doing has always driven me nuts. It is hard to find a balance between sanity and all the rumors. I just wait and see.
So in other words….who?I’d prefer to not see another Beaves transaction until Freeman is signed
I mean, can’t really complain about this move. Basically no risk, moderate reward type of situation. Let’s hope he provides a little value
This guarantees the repeat. My sincere condolences to the rest of the league.
Jackson is probably more valuable than the player he replaced on the roster (Lopez), so this transaction is still newsworthy, even if its not super-exciting.
Props to Jackson. Dude is 34, hung in just long enough to get in a few good years.. hopefully. Hey the Angels just overpaid for 2019 minor league free agent the same age in Aaron loup.
If I had my way, the Braves’ offseason would look something like:
1. Re-sign 1B F.Freeman for 5-6 year deal
2. Acquire one of: OF C.Mullins (BAL) / OF K.Marte (ARZ) / OF B.Buxton (MIN) / OF B.Reynolds (PIT) for prospects (some package centered around: Pache, Waters, Langeliers, Muller, Ynoa, Wright)
3. Re-sign OF E.Rosario to 2-3 year deal
4. Sign SP M.Pineda to one-year deal (a temporary veteran bridge to Soroka returning to the rotation, hopefully)
Rotation:
Morton
Fried
Anderson
Pineda
Muller/Wright/Ynoa/Davidson (whoever does not get traded in the CF deal)
* Soroka (eventually)
Lineup:
1. Marte / Mullins / Buxton / Reynolds, CF
2. Freeman, 1B
3. Acuna, RF
4. Albies, 2B
5. Riley, 3B
6. Duvall, LF
7. Rosario, DH
8. d’Arnaud, C
9. Swanson, SS
If the universal DH does not happen, then Rosario/Duvall make a great platoon.