White Sox Sign Austin Jackson

The Chicago White Sox have been able to sign or trade players that fit their needs this off-season. With the reported signing of free-agent outfielder Austin Jackson to a one-year $5 million contract, the White Sox were able to fill another important need of theirs.

The White Sox were linked to many free-agent outfielders during the off-season such as Justin Upton, Yoenis Cespedes, Alex Gordon, and Dexter Fowler. Although the White Sox were linked to those players, they were unable to sign any of them as they either returned to the team they played with in 2015, or they signed with a divsion rival.

The signing of Jackson isn’t going to make the White Sox favorites to win the AL Central division this season, but it could certainly help this team remain competitive. Jackson hit .272 and added 18 doubles in 107 games for the Seattle Mariners in 2015 before being traded to the Chicago Cubs. In 29 games with the Cubs, he hit .236 in 72 at-bats.

Jackson adds depth to the White Sox outfield, as well as the designated hitter position. Jackson could share time with both Avisail Garcia, and Adam LaRoche in 2016.

The move could also lead one to believe that the White Sox are more concerned with the progress of center-fielder Adam Eaton’s shoulder. Eaton has not appeared in a Cactus League game yet besides for the designated hitter role.

Either way, the Jackson signing is another nod to the fact that the White Sox front office is all in for 2016.