Well this is…interesting.
Two weeks after trading Austin Jackson to the Texas Rangers, the Giants are now interested in re-signing the outfielder, according to Jon Heyman of MLB.com. Jackson is currently a free agent after the Rangers released him on on July 14. The Red Sox are also reportedly interested.
#SFGiants and Red Sox are among teams considering Austin Jackson. SF would be interesting since they just traded him.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 22, 2018
The Giants traded Jackson, 31, as part of a salary dump along with reliever Cory Gearrin and minor league pitcher Jason Bahr. Jackson was signed this offseason with the intention of batting him leadoff against lefties, but the emergence of Gorkys Hernandez made Jackson expandable. Jackson didn’t exactly light the world on fire when he was in the lineup this season, posting a slash line of .242/.309/.295 in 149 at-bats.
What makes Jackson slightly more enticing now is that he would be incredibly cheap, likely available at the prorated MLB minimum salary. The Giants recently called up young outfielders Austin Slater and Steven Duggar, meaning it’s unlikely that the Giants would bring back Jackson unless they don’t feel confident in both Slater and Duggar’s ability to consistently produce for the remainder of the season.