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Edwin Jackson Appears headed to Miami Marlins

Reports are incoming that the Miami Marlins and pitcher Edwin Jackson are "closing in" on a deal. Joe Fisaro of mlb.com broke the news. Sources say that the right-handed pitcher, who once signed a $50 million/ 4-year contract with the Chicago Cubs, will make barely over the league minimum with his new deal.

A thirteen-year veteran, Jackson has been around the block. Originally taken in the 6th round of the 2001 draft, Jackson has had major league stops in Los Angeles, Tampa Bay, Arizona, Detroit, both Chicago teams, St. Louis, and Atlanta where he finished the 2015 season.

Jackson’s most successful season came in 2009, when he went 13-9 with a fine 3.62 ERA and an all-star appearance for the Detroit Tigers.

The highlight of Jackson’s career came in 2010 when he no-hit Tampa Bay while pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks. The no-hitter stands as one more perplexing games of all time, with Jackson walking eight batters and hitting one. Jackson needed an unheard of 149 pitches to complete the gem. The pitch count was the highest for a no-hitter in recorded MLB history.

Jackson is coming off a string of unsuccessful seasons as a starter but he showed promise after being moved to the bullpen in 2015. After posting double digit losses in three straight seasons, Jackson came out of the pen 47 times last season for Chicago and Atlanta posting a very respectable 3.07 ERA and 1.168 WHIP.

For his career, Jackson is 88-107 with a 4.58 ERA in 262 games started.

At best, Jackson could be a solid back-end option for the Marlins rotation. If this were the case, the Marlins staff appears be set with ace Jose Fernandez, followed by Jarred Cosart, Tom Koehler, and Jackson. Prospects Justin Nicolina and Adam Conley would vie for the fifth and final rotation spot.

However, after his success last year as a reliever, Jackson could also play a key piece of what is hoped to be an improved bullpen. The beauty of this contract is that at worst, he is costing the Marlins next to nothing.

This move is best sort of baseball transaction: low-risk, high-reward.

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