The Chicago White Sox have traded starter Edwin Jackson and third-baseman Mark Teahen to the Toronto Blue Jays for reliever Jason Frasor and a prospect.
This one leaves me scratching my head for a team that is only 4.5 games out of first. Chicago has a deep bullpen already, and adding Frasor, while nice, is not the kind of “addition” a contending team needs when balanced against giving up a starter.
Yes, Jackson is eligible for free agency after this season, but at 7-7 with a 3.92 ERA, to lose a starter who keeps your team in games with two months to go in a pennant race is an odd choice, unless Chicago sees the glass as half-empty this early.
Jackson, it will be remembered, was the winning pitcher in the White Sox win over the Indians on Sunday.
Teahan was hitting .203 for Chicago with three homers and 11 RBI in 51 games.
Frasor went 2-1 with a 2.98 ERA in 44 games for the Blue Jays.