Twins Add Veteran Reliever Jay Jackson to Already-Full Bullpen

[Seth Stohs]

According to Robert Murray, the Minnesota Twins have agreed to terms with 36-year-old reliever Jay Jackson on an MLB contract. The deal is pending a physical. 

Image courtesy of Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

The Twins are already projected to have one of the top bullpens in baseball heading into the 2024 season. On Sunday night, news broke that, pending physical, the Twins have agreed to terms with veteran Jay Jackson.

Last season with the Blue Jays, Jackson went 3-1 with a 2.12 ERA in 25 games and 29 2/3 innings. He had a 0.91 WHIP. He had signed a minor-league deal with the Jays, but was released just before the season started. He stayed with Toronto and spent a good chunk of the season in the majors, but was designated for assignment Oct. 1. 

Jackson pitched in two games for the Braves in 2022. He missed missed three months with a lat strain and was then optioned. He worked in 23 games for the Giants in 2021. In late August 2020, he signed with the Reds and was on their 60-man player pool. He pitched for Chiba Lotte in Japan earlier in 2020, but he was arrested on suspicion of cannabis possession and released.. In 2019, he worked in 28 games for the Brewers. Before that, his only big-league experience came in 2015 when he pitched in six games for the Padres. From 2016-2018, he pitched for Hiroshima. 

Jackson's fastball sits at an average of 93.3 mph, but he only threw it 40% of the time. 60% of his pitches are sliders at about 85 mph. Is it possible that we have another Matt Wisler on our hands? Could the Twins brass tell him to literally just throw sliders 90 percent of the time and see what happens? 

Here is a quick look at the Twins bullpen, with spring training set to begin soon (assuming health):
The Givens: Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, Caleb Thielbar, Brock Stewart, Justin Topa. 
The 40-man options: Jorge Alcala, Jordan Balazovic, Daniel Duarte, Kody Funderburk, Brent Headrick, Jackson, Cole Sands, Josh Staumont, Louie Varland, Josh Winder. 

40-Man Roster Spots
Obviously Jackson, and Carlos Santana, will need to pass physicals, and when they do, two players will need to be removed from the 40-man roster. 

This is the kind of deal that requires no grand conclusions or recriminations. It'll cost the Twins just about $250,000 more than the league minimum to add Jackson to the mix, protecting themselves from the impact of possible or lingering injuries to any of (especially) Stewart, Alcalá, Balazovic, or Staumont. He's well-traveled, and has been viewed as a positive clubhouse presence at several stops. He might not have relief ace upside, but he has that slider, and no one can ever have too much pitching.

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[lecroy24fan]

Will be interesting to se who gets moved from the 40 man to make room for Jackson and Carlos Santana.

[FLYBOY1979]

Are the Twins trying to put some players together for a trade?

[DocBauer]

27 minutes ago, lecroy24fan said:

Will be interesting to se who gets moved from the 40 man to make room for Jackson and Carlos Santana.

Bubba is an obvious choice. After that it gets a little harder. Would they try to slide someone like Balazovic through waivers. The just signed Duarte might be an option as well if they want to play the upside of a younger arm vs an OK 30+ year old who's been only average?

Maybe Gordon? But my gut says they want to see what he looks like in ST unless they still add another RH OF bat.

[theBOMisthebomb]

That's an odd MLB career stat line. 

[DocBauer]

13 minutes ago, FLYBOY1979 said:

Are the Twins trying to put some players together for a trade?

It's possible. But other than Kepler, what I THINK they want to move in a trade is prospects outside the top 5 who aren't on the 40 man, possibly including the comp pick they just got for Gray. That pick has good value. 

 

[darin617]

21 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

Bubba is an obvious choice. After that it gets a little harder. Would they try to slide someone like Balazovic through waivers. The just signed Duarte might be an option as well if they want to play the upside of a younger arm vs an OK 30+ year old who's been only average?

Maybe Gordon? But my gut says they want to see what he looks like in ST unless they still add another RH OF bat.

Bubba & Duarte are the top candidates unless there are some minor trades. You can never rule any type of trade either. 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I gotta think Funderburk is dang close to a lock.

Desclafini slated for a BP role too? He’s just as likely as Varland

[notoriousgod71]

2 days after winning the world series in 1987 this lad was born. And he celebrated his fourth birthday by falling asleep well before Jack Morris finished off the braves in 91.

[DocBauer]

This signing really confuses me. I know he's 36yo and doesn't have a long track record, but are the Jays so deep that they didn't have room for him?

He had a mediocre, sorta average 2019, didn't throw in 2020, had an almost invisible 2022, and put up a really good 2023. The ERA was outstanding, for what that's worth, with an excellent WHIP and solid but not great 8.2K. I know it was only about 29 IP in 25 games, but that seems like someone you'd like to have on the 40 man hoping for more in 2024.

So yeah, I'm kind of confused he was just jettisoned. Were the Jays trying to sneak him through? If so, why has he been just sitting there for so long and nobody else snaged him? He would seem to be better than a couple other guys they've grabbed and cut already this offseason. There's probably nothing more here than a potentially solid middle pen arm. The upside is probably limited. It's just a little confusing to me.

[Mike Sixel]

They trying to field the oldest team in the league?

And, yes, it does stuff, like 40 man changes. 

[DocBauer]

7 minutes ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

I gotta think Funderburk is dang close to a lock.

Desclafini slated for a BP role too? He’s just as likely as Varland

Right or wrong, as of today, the FO is looking at a hopefully healthy Desclafini just being a solid 5th SP and letting Varland sit in AAA for depth for when someone gets hurt. Same path that Ober followed in 2023. The idea is the veteran doesn't have options, so you hold an arm back so you aren't asking Festa, SWR, or anyone else having to come up in April or May and be that 6th starter. 

Agree or disagree, that's the process. 

Funderburk is in the pen. I doubt Descalfini is in the pen unless we get a trade to add a quality prospect trade for a SP. 

A Duvall or Pham OF signing is the most probable signing. A trade of 2 top 10 prospects, with a couple 20's or so, possibly including the Gray comp pick included somewhere, to add a quality SP, only happens if the new TV deal convinces ownership to make that extra move. No clue at that point if Desclafini might be included in such a deal or moved to the pen.

It does feel the Twins are doing all they can to build the best and deepest pen they can with multiple options available. Jackson may or may not be part of that. But it's apparent they are attempting to do so. I'm seeing a mix in 2024...as of today...of the Dodgers and Royals. SOLID roster with depth and flexibility combined with a solid rotation and deep pen. 

[Fatbat]

This reminds me of the black knight in monty python losing his arms…. The twins are just stock piling arms.  It sounds like the banko court ruling may not happen until as late as June so don’t expect a blockbuster deal any time soon. 

[awmonahan]

I tend to think Gordon, Bubba or Duarte are cut. I'd start with Duarte. 

I like adding a new all slider guy. The bullpen could show a ton of different looks, which would be fun. 

 

[Oldgoat_MN]

First thing I looked at was his FIP. It was 4.2 last year. Then I noticed that his ERA has been lower than his FIP every year he's pitched over 5 innings.  Twice by a significant margin. 

And gotta love that WHIP. 

A strong bullpen is a really good thing. Seems like a good signing. 

[specialiststeve]

I would be STUNNED if it were a major league deal.. Would make sense for a minor league deal but not like he was a high end reliever... Rather have Duarte.. 

[DJL44]

Nice job anytime you can get someone who looks decent for that cheap. Make the kids earn their way up.

[jorgenswest]

I think the plan for all of these types of signings was to pass them through waivers. Is it possible that sometimes these deals are done knowing they will soon make another addition? Before signing someone you will keep you look at the waiver list and add a player that you will soon waive and reopen the spot.

example: last year in a week one spot went from Oliver Ortega to AJ Alexy to Michael A Taylor

Taylor ended up with the spot and they tried to pass Ortega and Alexy through waivers. 

[Cory Engelhardt]

39 minutes ago, specialiststeve said:

I would be STUNNED if it were a major league deal.. Would make sense for a minor league deal but not like he was a high end reliever... Rather have Duarte.. 

It is a major league deal

[Dman]

2 hours ago, DocBauer said:

This signing really confuses me. I know he's 36yo and doesn't have a long track record, but are the Jays so deep that they didn't have room for him?

He had a mediocre, sorta average 2019, didn't throw in 2020, had an almost invisible 2022, and put up a really good 2023. The ERA was outstanding, for what that's worth, with an excellent WHIP and solid but not great 8.2K. I know it was only about 29 IP in 25 games, but that seems like someone you'd like to have on the 40 man hoping for more in 2024.

So yeah, I'm kind of confused he was just jettisoned. Were the Jays trying to sneak him through? If so, why has he been just sitting there for so long and nobody else snaged him? He would seem to be better than a couple other guys they've grabbed and cut already this offseason. There's probably nothing more here than a potentially solid middle pen arm. The upside is probably limited. It's just a little confusing to me.

I had the same reaction, confused.  I kind of thought they maybe wanted to keep Bubba and his elite speed on the 40 man.  Not that he would be a huge loss but the elite Buxton like speed might have come in handy at points in the season. They just grabbed Duarte and again no big deal to hope he clears waivers but they signed Jackson so he is here to stay.

As you pointed out the guy has been around a long time, but hasn't pitched much at the MLB level.  He had a real nice year last year although as others have pointed out his FIP is not nice. Not sure how his peripheral numbers check out, but it seems a curious choice for a 40 man spot.  I mean his MLB numbers are good he just seems like a possible regression candidate.

It does make you wonder if the Twins don't have a trade coming up that is gonna clear some 40 man room or maybe this is just  a guy they really like for lower leverage work?  I just kind of thought they might want a few more guys in the pen with options that they could could send up and down and Jackson is out of options and 36 years old to boot.

So yeah Doc I am a little confused myself.  Have to assume the moves to come will make this move make more sense?

Edit:  Reading more about him the Twins must be believers that last years numbers are for real and if they are he would be a very nice addition.  Wondering what the salary is going to be as I have to believe the Jays wanted him back.

[whosafraidofluigirussolo]

1 hour ago, DocBauer said:

This signing really confuses me. I know he's 36yo and doesn't have a long track record, but are the Jays so deep that they didn't have room for him?

...

So yeah, I'm kind of confused he was just jettisoned. Were the Jays trying to sneak him through? If so, why has he been just sitting there for so long and nobody else snaged him?

The MLBTR article noted that while Jackson still was well under 6 years of major-league service time, he had a clause in his contract making him a free agent after this season. So he wasn't waived. I'm guessing he had some leverage to get that provision in his contract because he was coming from a foreign league.

[ashbury]

Bubba and Duarte were recent waiver claims.  I expect both to be exposed to waivers to make room for Santana and Jackson respectively.

[Parfigliano]

1 hour ago, Oldgoat_MN said:

First thing I looked at was his FIP. It was 4.2 last year. Then I noticed that his ERA has been lower than his FIP every year he's pitched over 5 innings.  Twice by a significant margin. 

And gotta love that WHIP. 

A strong bullpen is a really good thing. Seems like a good signing. 

A strong bullpen is mandatory if they are running DeScalfina out there every 5th day.

[nicksaviking]

11 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

A strong bullpen is mandatory if they are running DeScalfina out there every 5th day.

There’s another solution to that……

[SaberNerd]

He's not exciting, but he's a solid arm and there are less solid arms than bullpen slots in MLB.

[RaoulDuke]

I did not expect another pen addition. 

They have Duran/ Stewart/ Jax/ Thielbar/ Topa as a pretty crowded back end already.  Alcala/ Funderburk/ Staumont/ Jackson can all be valuable pieces.  There is certainly volatility and consistency issues with relievers but there is a ton of options with upside there.

Seems like they are trying to cover for not having that real #2 by loading the pen.

[Doctor Gast]

10 hours ago, FLYBOY1979 said:

Are the Twins trying to put some players together for a trade?

What kind of trade can they do with these new guys? Certainly not a frontline SP that they desperately need any others won't move the needle.

[LewFordLives]

11 hours ago, RaoulDuke said:

 

Seems like they are trying to cover for not having that real #2 by loading the pen.

That was my first reaction. Also, I felt certain people in the pen were overused last year because they had two slots dedicated to guys like Sands and Winder that they refused to use in anything but mop up duty.

Overall, I don't disagree with this move. It gives them options in case of injuries and under performance. After it all shakes out, they could have a really solid bullpen.

[JoeCool]

A solid signing and I suspect Bubba and Duarte will be removed from the 40 man roster or we could see a surprise trade perhaps seeing our catcher in Vasquez or utility guy like Farmer moved to clear up more salary to allow us to go after an Adam Duvall type of player out there in free agency. 

I also sense we could see Johan Duran stretched out to a starter role which would be the way the Twins attempt to replace Sonny Gray’s production in the rotation. Adding a solid bullpen arm also strengthens this case.  There is no talk of this by anyone I have seen, but if the price is too high in both the trade and free agency markets to replace the lost production in the rotation this type of move makes a lot of sense. 

[CRF]

Didn't he used to play Chuck, on "Soap" back in the 1970's? I hope he's a better pitcher, than a ventriloquist. Oops...my bad, that was Jay Johnson. Never mind.