40 Edwin Jackson SP

Jackson signed a minor-league deal with the Athletics on Wednesday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The veteran is expected to be officially assigned to Triple-A Nashville, where he'll serve as organizational depth for the time being. The Athletics saw Daniel Gossett (elbow) become the latest of their pitchers to succumb to injury when he hit the disabled list Tuesday, and the right-hander's absence is expected to last multiple weeks. Before opting out of his contract with the Nationals last Thursday, Jackson had posted a 3.40 ERA over 10 starts with Triple-A Syracuse after failing to garner an Opening Day roster spot this spring.

Jackson has opted out of his contract with the Nationals and will be released Friday, Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post reports.

Jackson was in competition for a back-end rotation spot this spring but ultimately lost out to A.J. Cole. He made 10 starts with Triple-A Syracuse, posting a 3.40 ERA, but will now test the free agent market. He posted a 5.21 ERA over 76 innings with the Orioles and Nationals last season.

Jackson was reassigned to minor-league camp Saturday, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports.

Jackson gave up three homers in 11 innings with the big-league team this spring -- not good enough to put any real heat on A.J. Cole for the fifth starter job. The right-hander seemed done as a starter a few years ago, but he's made a combined 26 starts in the majors over the past two seasons. It seems likely he will resurface somewhere, sometime in 2018.

Jackson allowed one run on two hits while striking out three over three innings in Sunday's split-squad game against the Mets.

Jay Bruce launched a solo home run off him in the first inning, but Jackson settled down nicely after that. The veteran right-hander is competing for the Nats' fifth starter spot this spring, although a long relief role seems more likely if he does break camp on the big-league roster, and outings like this won't hurt his chances.

Jackson agreed to a minor-league deal with Washington on Thursday, which includes a $1.5 million contract if he makes the big-league team, Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post reports.

Jackson will return to the nation's capital following a few months with the team in 2017 after being designated for assignment by Baltimore in mid-June. He wound up starting 13 games for the Nationals, posting a 5.07 ERA and 1.41 WHIP over 71 innings as a fill-in starter while the staff battled injuries. He is set to serve in the same capacity this year while fighting for the fifth spot in the rotation, but will likely start the season at the Triple-A level as extra organizational depth.