Austin Jackson to the Colorado Rockies?

Austin Jackson and the Colorado Rockies? Say it ain’t so. The guys at MLB Trade Rumors have Jackson linked to the Rockies, potentially on a one-year deal to create value perhaps and other reasons which I will mention down the road in the article.

Jackson, 28, spent most of the 2015 campaign with the Seattle Mariners before being traded at the August waiver deadline to the Chicago Cubs.  The versatile outfielder played in 29 games for the Cubs, hitting at a clip of .236/.304/.335 with seven doubles, one home run and 10 RBI’s. Jackson made nine plate appearances in the Cubs playoff run, failing to record a hit as he struck out five times.

During his time with the Mariners this season, Jackson played in 107 games, hitting 18 doubles, three triples and eight home runs while driving in 38 runs from the leadoff spot. Jackson, as you may know, tends to strikeout quite a bit, striking out 126 times in 136 games played this season.

The guys over at MLB Trade Rumors, like mentioned in the introduction, have Jackson potentially landing in Colorado. Here’s what they had to say.

"Jackson looked like a potential star after a breakout 2012 season with the Tigers.  However, his offense declined and he was traded to the Mariners at the 2014 trade deadline.  Seattle sent him to the Cubs this year at the August deadline.  Jackson doesn’t turn 29 until February, and he plays a capable center field.  There’s a good chance he can still pass as a two-win center fielder.  A Boras client, Jackson could attempt to maximize his earnings now on multiyear deal, or rebuild value on a one-year pact.  A return to the Cubs makes sense, while the Rockies, Marlins, Nationals, Rangers, Braves, Reds, White Sox, and Indians could also be fits."

This seems a bit odd to me, seeing that the Rockies outfield is already a logjam featuring players such as Carlos Gonzalez, Corey Dickerson, Charlie Blackmon, Brandon Barnes etc. The only possible way I could see Jackson playing a year at Coors Field is if the Rockies deal a player such as Charlie Blackmon or Carlos Gonzalez, looking for a player to fill the position until a farm hand such as David Dahl is ready for the show.

Jackson kind of reminds me of Drew Stubbs, except a little better production wise. Both will hit for power and have the speed to steal bases, yet the problem is always the strikeout rate.

Next: Byung-ho Park to the Rockies?

The odds of the Rockies signing Austin Jackson are slim-to-none, yet it’s a fun topic to talk about.