The market for free agent starting pitcher Edwin Jackson has been slow to develop, but that hasn’t caused the Scott Boras client’s asking price to fall. Wallace Matthews of ESPNNewYork.com is reporting that Jackson and Boras are seeking a five-year, $60 million deal this winter. The Yankees have been the team most linked to Jackson so far this offseason, though other clubs figure to be interested in the right-hander as well.
Much of the national attention has turned to Boras’s other client, Prince Fielder, but the super agent has also put his marketing cap on for Jackson. In speaking with reporters, Boras has stated how Jackson is more of a sure thing than Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish and should intrigue major league clubs just as much.
Over his last four seasons, Jackson has averaged just under 200 innings pitched per year while maintaining an ERA near 4.00. Still only 28-years-old, Jackson’s done this while moving all around the league; he’s pitched for five teams in the past four years.
Still, five-years and $60 million could be a hard sell for a pitcher without a defined market. The Yankees definitely have interest in the right-hander, but not at that price. There are other teams in search of pitching this winter, but will also likely balk at the lofty asking price for Jackson.
Tim Dierkes of MLBTR.com believes Jackson will sign a deal in the four-year, $44 million range this winter. I’d tend to lean closer to that figure, but you never know what can happen when Boras is involved.
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