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The Giants have signed Austin Jackson to a two-year, $6 million deal. The almost 31-year-old Jackson had a productive 2017 season, hitting .318/.387/.482 with seven home runs in 318 plate appearances for the Indians. However, don’t expect that type of production to continue into 2018, especially if he’s a full-time player.
On the surface, this signing looks like a good one for the Giants, but the deeper you dive in, the murkier it gets. The first major issue is that Jackson is now a defensive reliability in center field. All of the defensive metrics rate him below or way below average. The Giants may still need to bring in a legit center fielder, especially if he gets any worse.
The second major issue is that most of Jackson’s damage last season came against left-handed pitching (141 plate appearances against lefties; 171 against righties). League-wide, only 25% of all matchups are with a lefty on the mound, while Jackson was closer to 50% in 2017. Last season, he posted a 1.013 OPS against lefties. Jackson has always hit lefties well, but some regression is still coming for anyone with a 1.013 OPS. If he’s playing close to full time, his numbers against righties are going to bring down his overall production.
Both factors make it tough to see Jackson getting a full season of plate appearances in 2018.
Previous Hot Stove Analysis
Blue Jays Acquire Randal Grichuk
Blue Jays Sign Curtis Granderson
Giants Trade for Andrew McCutchen
Twins Grab Their Closer, Sign Addison Reed
Mets Bring Back Jay Bruce on Three-Year Deal
Toronto Acquires Yangervis Solarte from San Diego
Royals, Dodgers, and White Sox Complete Three-Way Trade
Rockies Fill Closer Vacancy with Wade Davis
Arizona Adds Bullpen Depth with Yoshihisa Hirano
Indians Fill First-Base Void with Yonder Alonso
Brewers Bolster Rotation with Jhoulys Chacin
Orioles Lose Zach Britton, Brad Brach Likely Closer
Giants Add Evan Longoria, Rays Create a Mess
Red Sox Bring Back Mitch Moreland
CC Sabathia Returns to Yankees
Dodgers-Braves Make Five-Player Trade
Angels in the Infield: Zack Cozart Signs with Los Angeles
Phillies Ink Carlos Santana to Three-Year Deal
Everyone’s Signing Relievers, But Who Will Close?
Cardinals Finally Get Their Marlins Outfielder
Cubs and Twins Gamble on Smyly and Pineda
Chase Headley Gets Dumped on Padres
Cubs and Cardinals Add Potential Closers
Giancarlo Stanton Joins Yankees
Wellington Castillo Inks Deal with White Sox
Potential Closers Traded: Boxberger and Johnson