The Cubs designated for assignment pitcher Edwin Jackson. The Cubs have 10 days to trade him, or he can accept a AAA assignment, or become a free agent pitcher.
The move is to promote reliever Rafael Soriano.
Jackson has had the ire of the fans since he signed his $52 million free agent contract.
During his Cub tenure, Jackson had a spotty record:
2013: 8-18, 4.98 ERA, 1.460 WHIP, -1.3 WAR
2014: 6-15, 6.33 ERA, 1.642 WHIP, -2.3 WAR
2015: 2-1, 3.19 ERA, 1355 WHIP, 0.1 WAR
In 2014, Soriano went 4-1, 32 saves, 1.129 WHIP and 0.8 WAR for the Nationals.
Soriano was signed as a free agent on June 12 for a pro-rated $4.1MM
with $4MM in incentives. He’ll serve to further bolster a deep Cubs
bullpen. Jason Motte has filled in as the team’s closer in recent weeks,
but it stands to reason that Soriano could factor into the late innings
too. Soriano, 35, did not allow an earned run in seven minor league
appearances. In 630 career innings, he has 207 saves, a 2.85 ERA, 9.09
K/9, and 2.80 BB/9. He spent most of the 2014 season as the Nationals
closer before giving way to Drew Storen late in the season. He has 27 or
more saves in five of the last six seasons.
The question is why did the Nationals release Soriano? After the 2014 All Star break, Soriano tallied a 6.98 ERA, before being removed from the closer role on September 9. At age 35, all other teams passed on Soriano, thinking that he had nothing left in the tank.
Just as the Cubs are biting the bullet and paying $11 million for Edwin Jackson in 2016, the Cubs are also taking a flyer on Soriano to end the closer by committee situation.
