MLB Free Agents 2012: Are the Yankees Wise to Pursue Edwin Jackson?

The baseball free-agency hot stove is slowly starting to pick up.

Teams are starting to blueprint their offseason plans and prepare to offer free agents contracts, while others could be figuring out what trade might be best for them.

For the New York Yankees, it's hard to get a feel if they are going to be active in free agency or making trades.

But Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is wasting no time in the courting period of the free-agent pitchers and their respective agents.

Cashman has been in contact with Roy Oswalt and C.J. Wilson's agent, Bob Garber.

Now, he's also been in contact with Scott Boras, who represents Cardinals starter Edwin Jackson.

According to George King of the New York Post, the Yankees and Boras are having preliminary discussions about Jackson.

The 28-year-old Jackson was 12-9 with a 3.79 ERA in split time with the White Sox and Cardinals last season.

Since becoming a pro in 2003, Jackson has already been a member of six teams; the Dodgers, Rays, Tigers, Diamondbacks, White Sox and Cardinals.

He was on the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays team that lost to the Phillies in the World Series.

He was part of the three-team trade that got the Yankees Curtis Granderson and sent Jackson from the Tigers to the Diamondbacks.

On June 25, 2010, with Arizona and pitching against Tampa, Jackson threw a no-hitter, the second in Diamondbacks history.

And, he just won a World Series this past October with the Cardinals.

Now, he's a free agent and will get to pick where he wants to play.

And according to King, the Yankees are showing some interest.

Personally, I'm not the biggest fan of Jackson, especially if he is looking for No. 2 starter money.

If he's looking for anything like $15 million per season, then I think Cashman needs to pass.

Jackson has a career 60-60 win-loss record, which is very similar to what the Yankees have with A.J. Burnett right now.

He does have playoff experience in both leagues, but honestly, I think Jackson is better suited for the National League and facing the weaker lineups.

For all we know, this could be the Yankees and Cashman "doing their diligence" on the market by sizing up what players want.

But I think if they really want to get Jackson, they should not pay him No. 2 starter money.

On the Yankees, at best, Jackson is a No. 4 starter.

Which is why I feel the Yankees won't be the team that ends up signing Jackson. When this is all set and done, I think a team like the Washington Nationals or the Miami Marlins end up over-paying to land the services of Jackson.

And honestly, with Boras as Jackson's agent, I don't think the Yankees should go anywhere near him this winter, because Boras will drive the price right up on them.

Plus, I don't think the Yankees need to over-spend on a fourth starter and give him No. 2 starter money.

Hopefully, Cashman passes.

Only time will tell, though, as the hot stove continues to heat up this winter.

Stay tuned, Yankees Universe.