White Sox Sign Outfielder Austin Jackson
CHICAGO (AP) -- The Chicago White Sox bolstered their outfield depth when free agent Austin Jackson agreed to a $5 million, one-year contract on Sunday.
Jackson played for Seattle and the Chicago Cubs last season, batting .267 with nine homers and 48 RBIs in 136 games. He is a .273 hitter with 55 homers, 296 RBIs and 106 steals in 860 career games.
The White Sox announced the deal in a news release Sunday. To make room for Jackson on the 40-man roster, the White Sox said it designated third baseman Mike Olt for assignment.
The White Sox had been searching for outfield depth for much of the winter. Center fielder Adam Eaton is coming back from offseason shoulder surgery, and right fielder Avisail Garcia coming off a so-so season.
The 29-year-old Jackson has played mostly center field during his six seasons in the majors.
The move returns Jackson to the AL Central after he made his major league debut with Detroit in 2003. He played for the Tigers for four-plus seasons before he was traded to Seattle in a deadline deal in 2014 that moved ace David Price from Tampa Bay to Detroit.
(© 2016 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)