Free-agent relief pitcher Jay Jackson and the Minnesota Twins agreed to an undisclosed major-league deal on Monday, pending a physical, according to a source familiar with the deal. The 36-year-old veteran right-hander has a 92-94 mph fastball with a good slider and has a 2.73 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 53 innings since returning from Japan in 2021. In 25 relief appearances for the Toronto Blue Jays last year, Jackson had a 2.12 ERA (4.20 FIP) and 0.91 WHIP with nine walks and 27 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings pitched. He was outrighted to Triple-A Buffalo last October but chose free agency in November and will now head to spring training with Minnesota this year. Jackson should give the Twins some more valuable relief depth in 2024.

The Minnesota Twins have signed veteran relief pitcher Jay Jackson to a major league deal, according to Robert Murray of FanSided. Initial terms of the contract were unavailable. Just last month, it was reported that Jackson had interest from over one dozen teams and was trending towards receiving a major league contract. Indeed, the 36-year-old has put pen to paper with Minnesota and should provide meaningful innings in 2024. He was productive with the Blue Jays last season, posting a 2.12 ERA, 8.19 K/9, and 2.73 BB/9 through 25 games.

Free-agent reliever Jay Jackson has drawn interest from 14 teams throughout the offseason, and there is growing optimism that he will receive a major-league deal, according to a source. The 36-year-old right-hander posted a 2.12 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2023. In his five major-league campaigns with the Blue Jays, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants and Milwaukee Brewers, he's had a 3.50 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 87 1/3 innings pitched. He became a free agent when he rejected an outright assignment to Triple-A Buffalo in November. Depending on where he lands, Jackson could have some appeal in deep fantasy leagues that reward points for holds.

Toronto Blue Jays reliever Jay Jackson cleared waivers on Tuesday and is expected to accept his outright assignment to Triple-A Buffalo. As a result, the right-hander would be available to the club in case of injury throughout the postseason. Jackson tossed 29 2/3 innings of 2.12 ERA ball with the Blue Jays this season, although his 4.20 FIP and 3.89 SIERA suggest regression is on the horizon. The 35-year-old also worked to a rough 6.21 ERA/5.12 FIP across 25 appearances and 29 frames with Buffalo this season. He last pitched two scoreless innings with two strikeouts against the Rays on Sept. 29 and has not allowed an earned run across his last six appearances with the Blue Jays.

The Toronto Blue Jays optioned right-hander Jay Jackson to Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday and recalled right-hander Thomas Hatch from Buffalo in a corresponding move. Jackson only made three appearances out of the bullpen for Toronto and allowed a solo home run while walking two and striking out two in three innings of work. Hatch, 28, will give the team a fresh bullpen arm. The 28-year-old has yet to pitch in the big leagues this year. In three previous campaigns with Toronto, he pitched to a 5.58 ERA (5.56 FIP), 1.54 WHIP and 19.4 percent strikeout rate in 21 games (four starts) covering 40 1/3 innings. There is no fantasy value here.

The Toronto Blue Jays signed free-agent right-hander Jay Jackson to a minor-league deal on Wednesday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training. Jackson became a free agent in November after he was outrighted to the minors by the Atlanta Braves. The 35-year-old only pitched in 1 1/3 innings at the major-league level in 2022 for the Braves, and he has a 4.21 ERA (4.16 FIP) and 1.32 WHIP with 80 strikeouts and 31 walks in 57 2/3 innings over 59 career MLB appearances (one start) over four seasons. Jackson will attempt to win a major-league roster spot out of spring training for Toronto as low-leverage bullpen depth.

Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Jay Jackson has been recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday. The 34-year-old right-hander is replacing Jackson Stephens (concussion) who took a comebacker off his head in Friday's game vs. the Cardinals. Jackson hasn't appeared in the majors since 2021 when he logged a solid 3.74 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 28:12 K/BB ratio over 21 2/3 innings with the San Francisco Giants. He'll work out of the Braves bullpen as a middle reliever down the stretch.

NEW YORK (AP) — Eduardo Rodriguez shut down the short-handed Yankees into the sixth inning, Christian Arroyo and J.D. Martinez homered and the Boston Red Sox beat their rivals 4-0 on Friday night with New York missing slugger Aaron Judge and five others due to a coronavirus outbreak. A day after the series opener was postponed for testing and contact tracing, Judge, third baseman Gio Urshela and catcher Kyle Higashioka were added to the COVID-19 injured list. They joined Yankees pitchers Jonathan Loaisiga, Nestor Cortes Jr. and Wandy Peralta, who have also tested positive over the past week. New York was also without first baseman Luke Voit, who went on the injured list Friday with a bone bruise in his left knee. Rodriguez (7-5) allowed two hits over 5 2/3 innings, retiring 10 straight during one stretch and finishing with eight strikeouts. Hirokazu Sawamura got the final out of the sixth, and Tanner Houck pitched the final three innings, closing out Boston’s three-hitter for his first... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Eduardo Rodriguez shut down the short-handed Yankees into the sixth inning, Christian Arroyo and J.D. Martinez homered and the Boston Red Sox beat their rivals 4-0 on Friday night with New York missing slugger Aaron Judge and five others due to a coronavirus outbreak. A day after the series opener was postponed for testing and contact tracing, Judge, third baseman Gio Urshela and catcher Kyle Higashioka were added to the COVID-19 injured list. They joined Yankees pitchers Jonathan Loaisiga, Nestor Cortes Jr. and Wandy Peralta, who have also tested positive over the past week. New York was also without first baseman Luke Voit, who went on the injured list Friday with a bone bruise in his left knee. Rodriguez (7-5) allowed two hits over 5 2/3 innings, retiring 10 straight during one stretch and finishing with eight strikeouts. Hirokazu Sawamura got the final out of the sixth, and Tanner Houck pitched the final three innings, closing out Boston’s three-hitter for his first... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Eduardo Rodriguez shut down the short-handed Yankees into the sixth inning, Christian Arroyo and J.D. Martinez homered and the Boston Red Sox beat their rivals 4-0 on Friday night with New York missing slugger Aaron Judge and five others due to a coronavirus outbreak. A day after the series opener was postponed for testing and contact tracing, Judge, third baseman Gio Urshela and catcher Kyle Higashioka were added to the COVID-19 injured list. They joined Yankees pitchers Jonathan Loaisiga, Nestor Cortes Jr. and Wandy Peralta, who have also tested positive over the past week. New York was also without first baseman Luke Voit, who went on the injured list Friday with a bone bruise in his left knee. Rodriguez (7-5) allowed two hits over 5 2/3 innings, retiring 10 straight during one stretch and finishing with eight strikeouts. Hirokazu Sawamura got the final out of the sixth, and Tanner Houck pitched the final three innings, closing out Boston’s three-hitter for his first... [More]

Brewers first. Trent Grisham lines out to third base to Eugenio Suarez. Yasmani Grandal walks. Mike Moustakas walks. Yasmani Grandal to second. Keston Hiura singles to right field. Mike Moustakas to second. Yasmani Grandal to third. Ryan Braun homers to center field. Keston Hiura scores. Mike Moustakas scores. Yasmani Grandal scores. Eric Thames homers to center field. Lorenzo Cain singles to center field. Cory Spangenberg singles to left field. Lorenzo Cain to second. Jordan Lyles singles to shortstop. Cory Spangenberg to second. Lorenzo Cain to third. Trent Grisham reaches on a fielder's choice to first base. Jordan Lyles out at second. Cory Spangenberg to third. Lorenzo Cain scores. Yasmani Grandal strikes out swinging.6 runs, 6 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Brewers 6, Reds 0.Reds first. Josh VanMeter flies out to deep center field to Lorenzo Cain. Joey Votto strikes out swinging. Eugenio Suarez homers to left field. Aristides Aquino strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on.... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers' bid for a combined perfect game ended in the seventh inning when a line drive bounced off the glove of shortstop Orlando Arcia and was ruled a hit.Left-hander Gio Gonzalez got one out in the seventh Sunday before Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Bryan Reynolds stung a ball up the middle. Arcia ranged toward second and had to lean down for the low liner, and the ball ticked off the top of his glove for a single.All-Star right-hander Brandon Woodruff made his second start since missing two months with a left oblique strain and struck out three over two innings. Jay Jackson struck out the side in the third, and Gonzalez kept the perfect game intact until Reynolds' hit.There have been 23 perfect games in major league history, none of them using more than one pitcher. The Tampa Bay Rays were three outs from a combined perfect game in July against Baltimore.The Brewers led 4-0 after six innings behind two homers by Eric Thames and another by Arcia.Juan Nieves pitched the only no-hitter in Brewers history on April 15, 1987, against the Baltimore Orioles.Chicago Cubs right-hander Carlos Zambrano pitched the only no-hitter at Miller Park since it opened in 2001. Zambrano's outing came against the Houston Astros in a game relocated to Milwaukee when Hurricane Ike struck the Houston area.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Three Milwaukee Brewers pitchers have combined for six perfect innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates.All-Star right-hander Brandon Woodruff made his second start since missing two months with a left oblique strain and struck out three over two innings. Jay Jackson struck out the side in the third, and Gio Gonzalez has followed with three tidy innings.There have been 23 perfect games in major league history, none of them using more than one pitcher. The Tampa Bay Rays were three outs from a combined perfect game in July against Baltimore.The Brewers led 2-0 after 5 1/2 innings on home runs by Orlando Arcia and Eric Thames.Juan Nieves pitched the only no-hitter in Brewers history on April 15, 1987, against the Baltimore Orioles.Chicago Cubs right-hander Carlos Zambrano has pitched the only no-hitter at Miller Park since it opened in 2001. Zambrano's outing came against the Houston Astros in a game relocated to Milwaukee when Hurricane Ike struck the Houston area.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr. ignited a four-run rally with the go-ahead, two-run double, and the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves clinched a playoff berth with a 10-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Saturday.Acuña's double down the left-field line off reliever Fernando Rodney added fuel to a dramatic seventh inning for the Braves (93-57), who reduced their magic number to four to clinch their 19th division title.Earlier in the seventh, Charlie Culberson was struck directly on the right cheekbone by a 91-mph fastball on Rodney's first pitch of the game.Culberson remained on his back for several minutes as trainers pressed a towel to his face. He was eventually helped to his feet and onto the back of a cart.The Braves have won the last 11 games started by Mike Foltynewicz (7-5), who pitched six solid innings.Wander Suero (5-8) was charged with the loss as the Washington bullpen gave up nine runs over the final four innings. The Nationals saw their lead in the NL wild card race... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr. ignited a four-run rally with the go-ahead, two-run double, and the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves clinched a playoff berth with a 10-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Saturday.Acuña's double down the left-field line off reliever Fernando Rodney added fuel to a dramatic seventh inning for the Braves (93-57), who reduced their magic number to four to clinch their 19th division title.Earlier in the seventh, Charlie Culberson was struck directly on the right cheekbone by a 91-mph fastball on Rodney's first pitch of the game.Culberson remained on his back for several minutes as trainers pressed a towel to his face. He was eventually helped to his feet and onto the back of a cart.The Braves have won the last 11 games started by Mike Foltynewicz (7-5), who pitched six solid innings.Wander Suero (5-8) was charged with the loss as the Washington bullpen gave up nine runs over the final four innings. The Nationals saw their lead in the NL wild card race... [More]

Brewers first. Trent Grisham grounds out to second base, Starlin Castro to Neil Walker. Yasmani Grandal walks. Christian Yelich singles to right field. Yasmani Grandal to second. Eric Thames walks. Christian Yelich to second. Yasmani Grandal to third. Lorenzo Cain singles to center field. Eric Thames to second. Christian Yelich to third. Yasmani Grandal scores. Cory Spangenberg grounds out to first base to Neil Walker. Lorenzo Cain to second. Eric Thames to third. Christian Yelich scores. Travis Shaw flies out to deep right field to Garrett Cooper.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Brewers 2, Marlins 0.Brewers fifth. Eric Thames hit by pitch. Lorenzo Cain singles to right field. Eric Thames to second. Cory Spangenberg out on a sacrifice bunt to shallow infield, Brian Moran to Neil Walker. Lorenzo Cain to second. Eric Thames to third. Travis Shaw grounds out to shortstop, Miguel Rojas to Neil Walker. Eric Thames scores. Hernan Perez lines out to right field to Garrett Cooper.1 run, 1 hit,... [More]

Jackson was called up by the Padres on Monday, Corey Brock of MLB.com reports.

Jackson will be looking to make his MLB debut after spending the last seven years in the minors. The fact that the Padres are out of playoff contention will surely help in this endeavor, but Jackson doesn't offer much in the way of value as a 27-year-old relief pitcher who'll only be in line for a handful of appearances, if he even sees the mound.

Jackson was reassigned to minor league camp Sunday, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Jackson entered camp with little chance to crack the Opening Day roster. Despite ascending quickly through the minor league ranks, he has spent most of the past five seasons in Triple-A, and appears destined for the minors again in 2015.

Jackson signed a minor league contract with the Padres that includes an invite to spring training.

Jackson reached the Triple-A level as a 21-year-old in 2009 but has been unable to break through to the majors in five years since. In 532.2 innings at Triple-A, Jackson has posted a 5.17 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 7.3 K/9. Chances are, he'll merely serve as organizational depth in 2015.

The Pirates traded Jackson to the Brewers on Thursday in exchange for cash considerations, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Jackson figures to slot into the rotation at Triple-A Nashville, likely replacing Mike Fiers, who's expected to start for the big club Saturday. In 25 appearances (12 starts) with Triple-A Indianapolis this season, Jackson has posted a 4.89 ERA and 1.50 WHIP, so he's little more than organizational depth.