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The Spectacle Blog

Edwin Jackson On The Move Again

Consider what I wrote when the St. Louis Cardinals acquired pitcher Edwin Jackson from the Chicago White Sox (via the Toronto Blue Jays) last July:

So the Cardinals are Jackson's sixth big league club (including the five minutes he spent with the Jays) in less than three years. Jackson joins a Cardinals team that is currently in first place in the NL Central and is now part of a starting rotation in St. Louis which includes Chris Carpenter, Jaime Garcia, Jake Westbrook and Kyle Lohse. But even if the Cards should win the World Series methinks Jackson will be pitching elsewhere in 2012. He is a free agent at the end of the season.

I guess you could call him Travelin' Edwin Jackson.

Well, the Cardinals did win the World Series and Jackson, true to form, has moved on. Today, Jackson signed a one-year contract with the Washington Nationals pending a physical. Jackson went a combined 12-9 with a 3.79 ERA along with 148 strikeouts in just under 200 innings pitched with the Chisox and Cardinals in 2011.

The Nats look like they could contend in 2012 especially if MLB decides to add a second Wild Card spot. In any case, Jackson joins a starting rotation which includes Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Chien-Ming Wang and ex-Oakland Athletic Gio Gonzalez.

Interestingly, the 28-year old Jackson was offered several multiple year deals with the Cardinals, the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles but decided to seek a one-year deal so he could re-enter the free agent market after this season. Jackson's decision to sign with the Nats is no doubt disappointing to Pittsburgh Pirates fans who had lobbied him to sign with the Bucs through Twitter. But who knows? The Nats are Jackson's seventh big league team and probably not his last. Maybe Pirates fans will get their wish in 2013.

Of course, Jackson has a long way to go before he catches up to his former Cardinals teammate Octavio Dotel who, now as a member of the Detroit Tigers, will have pitched for an MLB record 13 teams.

View all comments (9) | Leave a comment

Drek| 2.2.12 @ 6:19PM

Stick a fork in the Phillies.............

Clint| 2.2.12 @ 7:30PM

Phillies Have Halliday, Lee, Hamels,Worley, Blanton, Kendrick, Pineiro.

That's Seven Starting Pitchers Deep.

albert constantine jr.| 2.2.12 @ 9:24PM

With some quality pitching, it might actually be tough to get a seat at the Nationals' stadium this year when the Phils are in D.C.

Clint| 2.2.12 @ 11:35PM

I Was At The Last Nationals Game In Philadelphia This Past Season And That's A Comin' Ballclub.

Drek| 2.2.12 @ 10:13PM

Yea, and a hitting lineup that can't drive runs across the plate.

For two years straight, they lost because of a want of offensive production.

Likewise in their last World Series matchup against the Yankees.

Clint| 2.2.12 @ 11:53PM

Phillies Won 102 Games Last Year.

In Those 102 Games Their Competition Hit Worse

While Puhol Has Left The Cards The Phillies Are Looking At A Comeback Dimitri Young & Already Signed Jim Thome, While Ryan Howard Heals Up.

RJ| 2.2.12 @ 7:10PM

I wonder what this guy is like in the dugout. He was a highly touted prospect for the Dodgers, but was a disappointment when he got his chance with them.

Sparky| 2.3.12 @ 9:30AM

RJ, Edwin Jackson is a solid guy, respected by teammates and respectful to the public. He's not a complainer, doesn't have an outsized ego. As long as the Nats can keep his pitching mechanics in order, he will be a positive contributor to that increasingly interesting team.