Chicago Cubs: Austin Jackson is exactly what this club needs with Soler out

After a disappointing turnout during the non-waiver trade deadline at the end of July, the Chicago Cubs were finally able to find themselves some solid additions in both Fernando Rodney and Austin Jackson from the Seattle Mariners.

This was about the fourth time these two clubs have come together with trades — the firsts involving outfielder Justin Ruggiano and catcher Welington Castillo which reeled in both Yoervis Medina and prospect Matt Brazis.

More from Chicago Cubs News

• Cubs starting pitching has been thriving on the North Side
• Make no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hitters
• Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups
• Cubs: P.J. Higgins deserves to be in the lineup on a daily basis
• Cubs might start to limit Justin Steele’s workload soon

In case you missed it, Rodney was acquired for cash considerations and Jackson was picked up for a player to be named later and an international signing slot. Chicago agreed to pick up $1 million of Jackson’s $7.7 million salary, which to me is totally worth it considering the type of player they acquired.

You can read more on this deal by clicking here.

With Jorge Soler out for at least the remainder of the regular season, adding Jackson to Joe Maddon‘s 25-man roster is going to help this club as he carries a nine-game hitting streak that was extended in Sunday’s loss to the Chicago White Sox in his final day with Seattle.

Jackson finished that game 3-for-6 at the dish with a three-bagger and homer under his belt. As of right now, he’s currently hitting .272/.312/.387 with an OPS of .699 with eight big flies, 38 RBI, three triples, 18 doubles, and 114 in 419 at-bats.

The only issue right now – which may not be that big of a deal – is that he’s spent his entire five-year career in center field. The same position that Dexter Fowler took over once he was acquired from the Houston Astros in exchange for Luis Valbuena and Dan Straily.

More from Cubbies Crib

• Cubs starting pitching has been thriving on the North Side
• Make no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hitters
• Cubs are giving pitcher Javier Assad a deserved shot
• Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups
• Cubs: P.J. Higgins deserves to be in the lineup on a daily basis

There’s no doubt that Fowler will remain the club’s everyday center fielder, so Jackson will more than likely take over right field with Kyle Schwarber and Chris Coghlan splitting the left side of the outfield.

Having two speedy outfielders such as Fowler and Jackson in the same lineup, let alone the same outfield, will make guys like Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks, and Jason Hammel feel a whole lot better when they’re on the mound.

Although Coghlan will be picking up the start in right later on tonight when Dan Haren takes the mound against the Cincinnati Reds. So that means we’ll either have to wait until tomorrow to see Jackson make his Cubs debut unless he makes a pinch-hit appearance during game 2 of this N.L. Central series.

Nonetheless, it’s great to see Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer adding another reliable bat for Joe to use whenever he needs to speed things up. Hopefully, if all goes well, Jackson will remain with the Cubs and help them bring home a World Series title.

He’s already added some more postseason experience, having reached the playoffs in back-to-back seasons with the Detroit Tigers back in 2011-2012 while reaching the World Series during the 2012 campaign.