The Atlanta Braves have signed righty Edwin Jackson to a major league contract, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Bowman reports that Jackson will immediately pitch out of the bullpen. He was released by the Cubs earlier this season.
The 31-year-old was released during the third season of his four-year, $52 million contract. There was rumors last year of the Braves sending Melvin Upton Jr. to the Cubs for Jackson, but the deal fell through.
Jackson has spent the whole season as a reliever and has been solid during his 31 innings, posting a 3.19 ERA and a WHIP of 1.36. He also has 6.7 strikeouts per nine innings and a 45.3 percent ground-ball rate. The right-hander is a definite upgrade for the third worse bullpen in the league.
