Edwin Jackson

2013

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2012

As part of the Colby Rasmus trade in July, Jackson immediately became a regular member of the St. Louis rotation and put together a string of six consecutive quality starts during the stretch run, but he still had a 1.462 WHIP in his 13 appearances with the Cardinals. He topped 180 innings pitched for the fourth season in a row and allowed 195 hits for the fifth season in a row. The Nats grabbed him as a potential bargain with a one-year deal in February, and his primary function will remain the same - he'll start a lot of games, strike out enough batters to make you think he's worth rostering, and then give up so many hits that you'll want to get rid of him, like so many major league teams have.

2011

The White Sox acquired him almost by accident at the trade deadline as general manager Kenny Williams reportedly wanted to flip Jackson for Adam Dunn, but the Nats balked after Williams traded Dan Hudson for Jackson. He was so-so with the Diamondbacks prior to the trade (104:60 K:BB in 134.1 innings, 5.16 ERA), but he went 3-0 with a 51:9 K:BB in his first six post-trade starts. Many credited pitching coach Don Cooper for the turnaround, as he added a cutter to Jackson's repertoire. He only won once more in his remaining five starts with the White Sox, but he racked up an impressive 77 strikeouts in 75 innings and will open 2011 as the White Sox's No. 4 starter.

2010

After years of failing to live up to the hype that surrounded him while he was coming up in the Dodgers' farm system, Jackson finally put it all together during his first campaign with the Tigers. The 26-year-old righty posted a 13-9 record with a 3.63 ERA in 33 starts. Unfortunately, Jackson's overall success masks a disappointing second-half performance that saw him post a 5.07 ERA and 1.527 WHIP in 15 starts after the All-Star break. The D-Backs acquired him to replace Max Scherzer as their No. 3 starter in December, so he'll get a chance to improve his strikeout totals against weaker National League lineups. Just be prepared for home-run and walk rates that are somewhere in between his first- and second-half results from 2009.

2009

Jackson was effective as a back-of-rotation starter for the Rays last season, but with that high WHIP and a strikeout rate that declined in 2008, you can't call it a breakout year. Jackson was dropped from the rotation for the postseason last year, and with David Price ready to pitch every fifth day, the Rays traded Jackson to Detroit for Matt Joyce at the winter meetings. At press time, the Tigers appeared likely to let Jackson claim a spot in the back of their rotation in 2009, but a shift to the bullpen is also possible depending on what other moves the Tigers make.

2008

His 2007 stat line doesn't look good, but Jackson's second-half performance might be more relevant. Jackson went 4-6, with a 4.48 ERA after the All-Star break, with seven quality starts in his last 12 outings. The Rays feel Jackson turned a corner in the second half, and he'll likely start the spring as the No. 4 starter in the Rays' rotation. Whether he stays in the rotation when David Price and/or Wade Davis are ready in the next season or so is another story, but he will get the chance to establish himself once again in 2008.

2007

The Rays gave up on Jackson as a starter last season and tried to recast him as a reliever at Triple-A. He was Durham's closer at the end of last year. He'll try to claim a short relief role and maybe even the closer job with the Rays in the spring, but given almost two runners per inning at Durham last year, Jackson is an end-game coin-flip at best.

2006

It might seem easy to write off Jackson as a prospect, given his multiple failed trials at the major league level and recent mediocre numbers in the minors as well, but keep in mind that Jackson will still only be 22 entering the 2006 season. The Dodgers did him a disservice by calling him up so early in his career (on his 20th birthday), and it appears that the forearm strain that slowed him down in 2004 was more serious than initially let on. He still needs more seasoning in the minors, but a big problem for him and the Dodgers is that their Triple-A affiliate is in Las Vegas, where the park effects are the PCL equivalent to Coors Field.

2005

Jackson frustrated many owners last season while he struggled with injuries and inconsistency. At just age 21, he's still a very solid prospect. He'll likely begin 2005 in Triple-A and a strong start could vault him into the Dodger rotation in the second half of the season or sooner.

2004

A future ace who made it all the way to Chavez Ravine in 2003. Jackson was very impressive in his three late season starts and could break camp with the big club if there is an opening in the rotation. He will likely start the year in Triple-A and be recalled as soon as Darren Dreifort gets hurt again.

2003

Exciting young prospect is the future of the rotation along with Figueroa. Played fullseason ball at 18, and kept his ERA under 2.00 over 104 2/3 innings. As the Sally league's youngest starter, this converted OF may shine someday. The Dodger farm system finally looks to be producing some solid talent again.