Jackson on the block

The Lakeland, FL Ledger is reporting that the Tampa Bay Rays are still considering trading Edwin Jackson. The Rays have six solid starters and are deep in starting pitching prospects, behind Price are four more starters waiting for a chance in the majors.

Here's the problem for the Mets, we don't match-up well, the Rays are looking for a right fielder. The Mets don't have extra outfielders, Milledge and Gomez are gone so as the last outfield prospect I don't think F-Mart is going anywhere for Jackson. Had the Mets still been three deep in outfielders this would be an easy deal to make.

Heilman will be viewed as a pen arm by the Rays so if they are willing to take a package with Heilman in it there will need to be more pieces involved. The Mets best chance of getting value for Heilman is finding a team that sees him as a starter, like the Rockies.

The Rays could trade 14-game winner Edwin Jackson for a right fielder, or they could even trade one of the other starters for the right right fielder.

Even though he tied a franchise record for wins, Jackson appears to be the odd-man out of the 2009 rotation, just as he was during the Rays' postseason run. It's not that Jackson pitched badly; it's just that everyone else pitched better. And the arrival of the 23-year-old Price, the only Rays pitcher to win a World Series game, bumps Jackson down to No. 6. source Lakeland, FL. Ledger