Edwin Jackson to Blue Jays Trade Close

It’s being reported that the White Sox are on the verge of sending Edwin Jackson and Mark Teahen to the Blue Jays for Jason Frasor and a prospect.

There have been plenty of rumors tying the Blue Jays to various available players such as Ubaldo Jimenez this summer, but few out there really took the team that seriously because of their current record of 51-52.

However, it’s looking like the Jays were being very serious as they prepare to bring in one of the top available arms.

Chicago is only 4.5 games back in the AL Central and has been known to be looking for relief help this summer.  Frasor would qualify, as the righty’s held an ERA of 2.98 and 1.25 WHIP over his 42.1 innings for the Jays this season.  The 33 year old has been pitching out of the Jays pen for 8 seasons, posting a career ERA of 3.69 while striking out 8.3 per 9.

I took at look at Jackson earlier this summer as a possible trade candidate due to the White Sox rotation depth and his upcoming free agency.  The 27 year old has been solid for Chicago this season.  Jackson has maintained an ERA of 3.92 over 19 starts.

Jackson is no stranger to deadline deals.  Already in his young career the right hander has been traded 4 times, the last coming a day before the 2010 deadline when he was acquired by Chicago from the Diamondbacks.

Teahen has been awful (.582 OPS) this season, and what’s worse is his contract.  The 29 year old is making $4.75 million this season and another $5.5 mil in 2012.

While the prospect is yet to be named and the amount of money changing hands hasn’t been shared, this move has many questioning the thought process of the Blue Jays.  There don’t appear to be many incentives for the club to take on the large contracts of Jackson and Teahan in the midst of a losing season.

One belief is that, once acquiring Jackson, the Jays would then flip him to another contender.  Joel Sherman tweeted that that is indeed the case and that it is causing the primary deal to be held up as the Blue Jays negotiate with other clubs.  Rumor has it that St. Louis is the third team involved that would receive Jackson from Toronto.

As Tim Dierkes of MLBTradeRumors.com states, Frasor and Jackson are both projected to be Type B free agents, so Toronto is not even gaining a draft pick by making the trade.

Toronto could also believe that they are buying low on Teahen in hopes that he can rebound in 2012.  The club has struggled to find production out of the third base position this year, and Teahan’s numbers show that he has been especially unlucky (.241 BABIP) at the plate this year.

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