MLB Free Agents 2012: Why New York Yankees Should Sign Edwin Jackson

In their search for a free-agent starting pitcher, the New York Yankees should look no further than World Series Champion right-hander Edwin Jackson.

With a couple of their arms leaving due to free agency, the Yankees should look to get younger and cement their starting rotation for the future. They already have a couple of great hurlers at the top end of the rotation, but they need to solidify the remainder of spots.

Edwin Jackson would be a great value pickup for New York because he's still relatively young and has improved the last couple years.

Let's take a closer look at why the Yankees should sign him.

The Yankees Need a Quality No. 3 Starter

No matter how good a team is, you can never have enough starting pitching. Although the Yankees managed to piece together a decent rotation last year, they are by no means set for the future.

C.C. Sabathia and Ivan Nova seem to be the only top-notch starters the Yankees currently have. The futures of Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon are up in the air, as the aging veterans are now free agents. A.J. Burnett is as dependable as an umbrella in a tornado, and Phil Hughes has been inconsistent too.

Joe Girardi shouldn't count on being as fortunate as he was last year. New York brass needs to be proactive and secure a quality starter.

Jackson Has the Talent to Be a No. 3 on Any Team

No one should doubt the talent that Jackson possesses. He uses his mid-90's fastball and power slider to keep both right-handed and left-handed hitters off-balance.

He has shown increased control over the last couple of years, and the Yankees could definitely rely on him as their No. 3 to throw 200 innings and get 150 or more strikeouts per season. He has averaged 12.25 wins over the last four seasons, but with the Bronx Bombers' lineup behind him, Jackson could post 15 or more wins. 

Jackson's career numbers against AL hitters are actually slightly better than they are against NL hitters. He's only 28, but he already has more than 1,000 major league innings under his belt.

The Yankees Need a Young, Healthy Arm

A vital aspect to any free-agent pitcher is his age and track record of health. The Yankees need to pick up a young, durable arm.

Phil Hughes missed a huge chunk of 2011, and Bartolo Colon, A.J. Burnett and Freddy Garcia all dealt with injuries last season. The Yankees got lucky that these injuries didn't cost them the division. They can't afford to count on pitchers in their late 30's to get them through the season again.

It would be wise for G.M. Brian Cashman to target a starting pitcher who is fairly young, has an injury-free history and can give them 200 or more innings.

Jackson Is Young and Durable

The list of 2012 free agent pitchers is loaded with pitchers who are in their 30's. At 28, Jackson is the second-youngest free-agent pitcher available, and he's in the beginning of the prime of his career.

The best part about Jackson's youth is that it is not an inexperienced youth. He's been a full time major league starter since 2007, so he'll be entering his sixth full MLB season this spring. He's also pitched significant innings in both the AL and the NL.

When it comes to health, Jackson has a favorable history. In each of his five seasons as a starter, Jackson has gone to the mound at least 32 times, and he hasn't missed any large portion of games due to injury.

Jackson Knows How to Play for a Winner

Throughout his career, Jackson has been able to step up his game when he's pitching for a winning ball club that is counting on him for victories.

His winning percentage and ERA is markedly better when he's on a team that's in the playoff hunt. His ERA improved when Tampa Bay became a legitimate club in 2008, and it also improved after he was traded from losing franchises midseason in 2010 and 2011.

Part of this is due to the support that's around him, but it's also because he knows how to work well with that support.

He's also got a couple of deep playoff runs under his belt, including the recent Cardinal playoff ride capped off by a World Series Championship. He has experience playing under the bright lights of October.

Jackson Is in the Prime of His Career

Jackson has just begun the prime of his career, and if the Yankees can sign him for two to three years, they'll probably be getting the best years Jackson will ever pitch.

He's gradually matured over the last couple of seasons, throwing more strikes and becoming a more efficient pitcher. Each season he has significantly decreased his walks per game and home runs per game.

From 2010 to 2011, he improved his ERA from 4.47 to 3.79, and in 2011 he had a career-best strikeout/walk ratio. Given his recent improvement and prime age, Jackson would be a smart choice for the Yankees.