Cleveland Indians snag coveted righty Austin Jackson in minor league deal

Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Speedster Austin Jackson has earned an invitation to Cleveland Indians spring training.

The Indians signed the 29-year-old outfielder to a minor league contract Wednesday, according to multiple reports. Jackson's deal includes a $1.5 million base salary and $4 million in additional incentives, according to Jon Heyman. The free agent had knee surgery in June, forcing him to miss the bulk of the second half last season for the Chicago White Sox. He hit .254 in 54 games in 2016.

In July, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported that the White Sox were exploring the trade market for the center fielder. His June 10 surgery was to repair a meniscus tear in his right knee.

Jackson is a career .272 hitter with 108 career stolen bases. He has twice led the league in triples during his seven-year career. The defending American League champions need outfielders after watching Rajai Davis sign with the Oakland Athletics this off-seasosn. The team still has leftfielder Michael Brantley, centerfielder Tyler Naquin, and rightfielder Lonnie Chisenhall on its roster, but all three are left-handed.

After the New York Yankees drafted Jackson in 2005, he was part of a six-player deal in 2009 involving the Detroit Tigers and Arizona Diamondbacks. That deal sent Max Scherzer and Phil Coke to the Tigers, Ian Kennedy and Jackson to the Diamondbacks, and Curtis Granderson to the Yankees.

He was a part of another 3-team deal in 2014, sending him to the Seattle Mariners. In 2015, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs.