Washington Nationals Free Agent Profile: Austin Jackson
By Matt Weyrich
The Washington Nationals have been rumored to be interested in adding a fourth outfielder. Would Austin Jackson be a fit in D.C.?
Just as it was the day after the Nats fell 1-0 to the New York Mets in their final game of the 2015 season, the starting outfield in Washington is projected to feature the likes of MVP Bryce Harper, soon-to-be 25-year old Michael Taylor, and veteran Jayson Werth. Each presents different skillsets, with all three players bringing something unique to the table.
Harper is one of the best players on the entire planet, and has a lock on right field for the near future. Taylor posted an impressive rookie season, but his lack of plate discipline leaves some wary of handing him the keys to a starting role. Werth just wrapped up one of the worst seasons of his career, and at 36-years old, it remains to be seen just how much he has left in the tank.
Enter Austin Jackson, who split the 2015 season between the Seattle Mariners and Chicago Cubs after watching himself get traded to the Windy City in August. Between the two clubs, Jackson posted a .267/.311/.385 slash line with nine home runs and 17 stolen bases over 136 games.
More from District on Deck
- Washington Nationals: Is Seth Lugo Still an Option?
- Robots in Baseball? The Possibility of an Automated Ball/Strike System in the MLB
- Washington Nationals Re-Sign RHP Erasmo Ramirez
- Washington Nationals Sign RHP Trevor Williams
- Washington Nationals find Success in First Draft Lottery
With his 29th birthday less than a month away, Jackson is right in the middle of his prime. He’s never appeared in less than 129 games a season, and he can play all three outfield positions with above average defense.
Austin Jackson was drafted by the New York Yankees in the eighth round of the 2005 first-year player draft. After getting traded to Detroit in a blockbuster three-team trade that included names like Max Scherzer, Curtis Granderson, Ian Kennedy, and Edwin Jackson, the Texas-native debuted with the Tigers in 2010. He went on to finish second in AL Rookie of the Year voting that year to Neftali Feliz.
More from Nationals News
- Robots in Baseball? The Possibility of an Automated Ball/Strike System in the MLB
- Washington Nationals Re-Sign RHP Erasmo Ramirez
- Washington Nationals Sign RHP Trevor Williams
- Washington Nationals find Success in First Draft Lottery
- Washington Nationals: What to Know for the MLB Draft Lottery
Jackson remained in the Motor City for four seasons, until he was once again a piece in a three-team deal (the major component in this one? David Price) that landed him in Seattle. He played there until last August, when he was sent to the Cubs. He now hits free agency for the first time, with no qualifying offer attached.
The Nats are not totally strangers to the idea of playing host to four starting outfielders on their roster. Prior to the 2014 season, Washington signed Nate McLouth to a two-year deal to join the club as the team’s fourth outfielder. While McLouth struggled on the field and missed the entire 2015 season with an injury, the idea wasn’t really the problem. Jackson, with no injury history, could be exactly what this club needs to get back into contention.
Next: District Daily: Notes on Ian Desmond And Chris Speier
A Scott Boras client, Jackson is projected to score a one-year deal in the $12 million range in order to build his value moving forward. After clearing nearly $45 million in payroll with the departure of a number of key free agents, the Nats still have plenty of room to work with.