The Marlins have agreed to sign veteran right-hander Edwin Jackson to a major league contract, reports MLB Network Insider Jon Heyman. MLB.com's Joe Frisaro first reported the two sides were close to a deal. The contract is pending a physical.
Jackson will earn $13 million in 2016, but that's not what the Marlins will pay him. They're only on the hook for the league minimum ($507,500). The Cubs released Jackson last August, in year three of his four year contract. They still owe him $13 million in 2016, less whatever Miami pays him.
The salary structure makes this a very low risk move for the Marlins. Jackson was terrible with the Cubs from 2013-14 (69 ERA+) before moving into the bullpen full-time in 2015, where he was much more effective (127 OPS+). If he's ineffective in 2016, they can cut him loose with no strings attached.
Jackson, 32, is expected to compete for a rotation spot in spring training. The Marlins have Jose Fernandez, Tom Koehler, and Jarred Cosart locked into the rotation, so Jackson will join a group that includes David Phelps, Adam Conley, Brad Hand, Jose Urena, and Justin Nicolino as candidates for the fourth and fifth spots.
Frisaro says the Marlins are still looking for pitching help even after signing Jackson. They're said to be looking for more reclamation project types. Doug Fister seems like an obvious target, though bigger names like Tim Lincecum and Cliff Lee could be fits as well.
