March 07--After mostly sitting out the free-agent market this winter, the White Sox on Sunday continued their strategy of signing low-priced veterans to one-year deals.
Outfielder Austin Jackson, who signed a one-year, $5 million deal according to multiple reports, is the latest example of the Sox waiting for prices to tumble before striking.
Jackson, 29, went unsigned this offseason after hitting .267 with nine home runs and 48 RBIs last year with the Mariners and Cubs. A solid defensive player who can play any outfield spot, Jackson has a .273 career average over six seasons, mostly with the Tigers.
The news spread on Twitter near the end of Sunday's Cactus League game after MLB Network's Jon Heyman tweeted the deal. Manager Robin Ventura said he didn't know anything, and general manager Rick Hahn did not return messages.
The Sox have been looking for another outfielder all winter, but Alex Gordon and Yoenis Cespedes were out of their price range and wound up returning to their respective teams. Jackson was the last free-agent outfielder with value on the market, and the Sox continued their interest even as spring training games began.
"There's always one more move to make," executive Ken Williams said last week. "I'm going to put that on my tombstone."
That move apparently was Jackson, who, according Heyman, turned down a better offer from the Angels. Jackson would be the Sox's best defensive outfielder at any position, but how much he'll play may depend on his bat. He hasn't produced like the player he was expected to become at the start of his career in Detroit.
With Adam Eaton playing designated hitter this spring after nerve-compression surgery in his shoulder last winter, the Sox do not have a backup center fielder on the major-league roster, although reserve outfielder J.B. Shuck can play there in a pinch.
Ventura had no timetable for Eaton's return to the field but said trainer Herm Schneider is "not alarmed" by the issue.
"Adam is feeling a lot better than yesterday," Ventura said. "I don't see it as anything structural."
Last year's DH, Adam LaRoche, is also out with back spasms that could affect his ability to be ready for the start of the season. Again, Ventura said it was not an immediate concern, and the Sox said there was no nerve damage.
Still, Jackson's arrival could mean Eaton moves between left and right, with Avisail Garcia and Melky Cabrera alternating as designated hitter.
The Jackson signing is in line with the other low-risk moves the Sox have made since the end of 2015. They've spent just over $20 million on seven free agents.
Over the winter, their only free-agent signings were one-year deals with catchers Dioner Navarro ($4 million) and Alex Avila (2.5 million) and pitchers Jacob Turner ($1.5 million), Matt Albers ($2.25 million) and Mat Latos ($3 million). Since spring training starter, they signed shortstop Jimmy Rollins to a minor-league deal that will pay him $2 million if he makes the roster, as expected.
Now comes Jackson as the final piece of the outfield puzzle.
psullivan@tribpub.com
