Twins sign former SF Giants, Blue Jays reliever to MLB contract

The Minnesota Twins have agreed to a deal with former SF Giants and Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Jay Jackson, according to Robert Murray.

The Minnesota Twins have agreed to a major league contract with former SF Giants and Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Jay Jackson, according to a report by FanSided’s MLB insider Robert Murray. While the terms were not reported, it is presumably a one-year contract. Nevertheless, since he is out of minor-league options, Jackson will be guaranteed a full MLB salary if he passes his physical and the deal gets finalized.

Jackson spent the entire 2023 season in the Toronto Blue Jays organization. Jackson appeared in 25 big-league games, recording a 2.12 ERA (4.20 FIP) with 27 strikeouts and nine walks in 29.2 innings pitched. He did post a 6.27 ERA at Triple-A, but he racked up some impressive strikeout (43) and walk (7) tallies.

Jackson has had one of the most traveled careers in professional baseball since he was drafted in the eighth round of the 2008 MLB Draft by the Chicago Cubs. In the years since, he has played for eight different MLB organizations, appearing in the majors with five different teams, alongside multiple stints in Mexico and Japan.

Jackson made his first big-league stint with the Padres in 2015 before heading to Japan from 2016-2018, where he was a dominant reliever with the Hiroshima Carp. Upon his return stateside in 2019, Jackson posted a 4.45 ERA (4.66 FIP) in 28 appearances with the Brewers.

While the righty was unable to find a big-league opportunity during a tumultuous 2020, Jackson signed a minor-league deal with the Giants prior to the start of the 2021 season. Jackson missed the early part of the season with an injury but immediately dominated Triple-A upon his return. He allowed just two runs on five hits and one walk over 14 innings pitched (10 appearances) with 24 strikeouts in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

Eventually, recognizing his standout performance, the Giants call him up to the MLB bullpen. He emerged as a fan favorite for his firey mentality on the mound, helping San Francisco escape many tight jams. Jackson was an effective middle reliever in San Francisco, posting a 3.74 ERA in 21.2 innings with 28 strikeouts and 12 walks.

Following the season, the Giants traded Jackson to Atlanta for cash considerations. While Jackson was expected to compete for a spot in Atlanta’s Opening Day bullpen, a lat strain kept him out for the first months of the season. When Jackson returned, he was excellent at Triple-A (1.83 ERA in 19.2 innings), but Atlanta only briefly promoted him to the majors in August. He did not allow a run across 1.1 innings pitched.

SF Giants pitcher Jay Jackson throws a pitch. (2021)

Jackson became a free agent following the season, eventually landing a minor-league deal with Toronto. Despite his nomadic career, Jay Jackson has been effective at nearly every stop on his long professional journey. With a MLB career 3.50 ERA (4.17 FIP) in 84 appearances and more than 11 seasons of experience at Triple-A, he will look to finally have some long-term stability with the Minnesota Twins.