The Giants got their centerfielder yesterday. Or did they?
Speaking with reporters on a conference call Tuesday, Giants executive Brian Sabean said that Jackson is probably not going to be San Francisco’s everyday centerfielder in 2018.
“We don’t know exactly what’s going to transpire between now and Spring Training, how (Steven) Duggar may or may not rear his head,” Sabean said. “He’s certainly a viable option. Did we get him to be our everyday centerfielder? Probably not. I don’t know that in his recent history he’s been able to go out there in that fashion.”
Jackson, 30, hasn’t been an everyday player for a couple of seasons, playing in 85 games for the Indians in 2017, and 35 with the White Sox in 2016. Jackson is also not considered the defensive outfielder he once was — with some exceptions — and will probably be used primarily against left-handed pitching, which he hit .318/.387/.482 against last season.
Duggar, 24, has never played in a Major League game, but has the potential to be an outstanding defensive outfielder at the big league level. As long as he doesn’t bomb in Spring Training, it seems likely that Duggar will begin the season in a platoon with Jackson.
According to Mike Krukow, Jackson is expected to hit leadoff on days he is in the lineup.
