Free-agent relief pitcher Jay Jackson and the Minnesota Twins agreed to an undisclosed major-league deal on Monday, pending a physical, according to a source familiar with the deal. The 36-year-old veteran right-hander has a 92-94 mph fastball with a good slider and has a 2.73 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 53 innings since returning from Japan in 2021. In 25 relief appearances for the Toronto Blue Jays last year, Jackson had a 2.12 ERA (4.20 FIP) and 0.91 WHIP with nine walks and 27 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings pitched. He was outrighted to Triple-A Buffalo last October but chose free agency in November and will now head to spring training with Minnesota this year. Jackson should give the Twins some more valuable relief depth in 2024.
The Minnesota Twins have signed veteran relief pitcher Jay Jackson to a major league deal, according to Robert Murray of FanSided. Initial terms of the contract were unavailable. Just last month, it was reported that Jackson had interest from over one dozen teams and was trending towards receiving a major league contract. Indeed, the 36-year-old has put pen to paper with Minnesota and should provide meaningful innings in 2024. He was productive with the Blue Jays last season, posting a 2.12 ERA, 8.19 K/9, and 2.73 BB/9 through 25 games.
Free-agent reliever Jay Jackson has drawn interest from 14 teams throughout the offseason, and there is growing optimism that he will receive a major-league deal, according to a source. The 36-year-old right-hander posted a 2.12 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2023. In his five major-league campaigns with the Blue Jays, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants and Milwaukee Brewers, he's had a 3.50 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 87 1/3 innings pitched. He became a free agent when he rejected an outright assignment to Triple-A Buffalo in November. Depending on where he lands, Jackson could have some appeal in deep fantasy leagues that reward points for holds.
Jay Jackson Expected To Remain With Blue Jays, Could Pitch In Playoffs
Toronto Blue Jays reliever Jay Jackson cleared waivers on Tuesday and is expected to accept his outright assignment to Triple-A Buffalo. As a result, the right-hander would be available to the club in case of injury throughout the postseason. Jackson tossed 29 2/3 innings of 2.12 ERA ball with the Blue Jays this season, although his 4.20 FIP and 3.89 SIERA suggest regression is on the horizon. The 35-year-old also worked to a rough 6.21 ERA/5.12 FIP across 25 appearances and 29 frames with Buffalo this season. He last pitched two scoreless innings with two strikeouts against the Rays on Sept. 29 and has not allowed an earned run across his last six appearances with the Blue Jays.
The Toronto Blue Jays optioned right-hander Jay Jackson to Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday and recalled right-hander Thomas Hatch from Buffalo in a corresponding move. Jackson only made three appearances out of the bullpen for Toronto and allowed a solo home run while walking two and striking out two in three innings of work. Hatch, 28, will give the team a fresh bullpen arm. The 28-year-old has yet to pitch in the big leagues this year. In three previous campaigns with Toronto, he pitched to a 5.58 ERA (5.56 FIP), 1.54 WHIP and 19.4 percent strikeout rate in 21 games (four starts) covering 40 1/3 innings. There is no fantasy value here.
The Toronto Blue Jays signed free-agent right-hander Jay Jackson to a minor-league deal on Wednesday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training. Jackson became a free agent in November after he was outrighted to the minors by the Atlanta Braves. The 35-year-old only pitched in 1 1/3 innings at the major-league level in 2022 for the Braves, and he has a 4.21 ERA (4.16 FIP) and 1.32 WHIP with 80 strikeouts and 31 walks in 57 2/3 innings over 59 career MLB appearances (one start) over four seasons. Jackson will attempt to win a major-league roster spot out of spring training for Toronto as low-leverage bullpen depth.
Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Jay Jackson has been recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday. The 34-year-old right-hander is replacing Jackson Stephens (concussion) who took a comebacker off his head in Friday's game vs. the Cardinals. Jackson hasn't appeared in the majors since 2021 when he logged a solid 3.74 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 28:12 K/BB ratio over 21 2/3 innings with the San Francisco Giants. He'll work out of the Braves bullpen as a middle reliever down the stretch.
According to Jerry Cransick of ESPN.com, multiple teams are showing interest in former Chicago Cubs prospect Jay Jackson. Jackson was once one of the top arms in the Cubs system but never ended up pitching for the big league club. He made a brief appearance for the Padres in 2015 before heading over to Japan the past two years where has been one of the top setup men with a 1.86 ERA during his time. He is worth taking a look at for teams looking for bullpen help and it will be interesting to see if he lands a deal with a big league club.
