This area should have a special place in its heart for Austin Jackson.
He's a native son, from Denton, and had a decorated high school athletic career at Denton Ryan where he played baseball and was a stud guard on the Raiders' basketball team — good enough to earn a scholarship to Georgia Tech, which was a powerhouse at the time.
He chose the baseball route, was drafted by the Yankees and was one of their top prospects before being dealt to the Tigers for Curtis Granderson. Jackson was very good for a couple of years, but has dropped off since and spent time with the Mariners and Cubs with limited roles.
There was thought the Rangers would look toward Jackson for outfield depth, but that was before they made the move "out of left field" and signed all-star shortstop Ian Desmond to be their left fielder.
When comparing Jackson and Desmond as players and comparing their contracts, you have to say the Rangers made the right decision.
Jackson signed with the White Sox on Sunday for one year for $5 million to be a platoon player. Desmond's deal with the Rangers — risky given his inexperience as an outfielder — was one year for $8 million to be an everyday player and a guy who has a very real chance of hitting 20 homers and stealing 20 bases.
The jury's still out on Desmond with the Rangers, but the verdict is in on whether they got a good bargain on him.
