Giants get their center fielder: Austin Jackson

Just like that, the Giants have their outfield.

Hunter Pence will play left field, Andrew McCutchen right and the newest addition, 30-year-old Austin Jackson, will play center.

The Giants signed him and managed to stay under the CBT, reportedly agreeing to a two-year, $6 million deal, according to FanRag Sports’s Jon Heyman. That would give Jackson $3 million per year. The Giants had about $4 million with which to play.

Remodeling the outfield was the Giants’ biggest priority heading into the offseason. The team’s ERAs seemed inflated with poor defensive play in every corner and plane. Jackson, though not at his peak, will surely shore that up.

Jackson had -2 defensive runs saved, which is an upgrade at center for the Giants, and a 2 WAR. Offensively, the eight-year veteran is a career .275-hitter.

He slashed .318/.387/.482 with the Cleveland Indians in just 85 games last year. Bobby Evans said the franchise’s No. 5 prospect, Steven Duggar, is a back pocket option for the Giants — they hope to see him grow a bit more in his role in the minors — which makes Jackson the primary candidate for the starting role.

Shayna Rubin is SFBay’s San Francisco Giants beat writer. Follow @SFBay and @ShaynaRubin on Twitter and at SFBay.ca for full coverage of Giants baseball.