Free agent Joc Pederson is likely one of the higher left-handed bats obtainable and the Diamondbacks are excited by bringing him again, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Rosenthal additionally mentions the Rays and Rangers as attainable touchdown spots, although these appear extra speculative, so it’s unclear to what diploma these golf equipment have an interest.
Pederson, 33 in April, is a restricted participant however does one factor very nicely. He doesn’t run nicely nor present a lot of something defensively. He’s additionally been a legal responsibility when a left-hander is on the mound, however he does crush righties.
Final winter, the Diamondbacks signed Pederson to a one-year cope with a $12.5MM assure. He received into 132 video games for the Snakes this 12 months however didn’t take the sphere in any respect. On account of his poor defensive monitor file, he was used solely as a chosen hitter or pinch hitter. Of his 449 plate appearances on the 12 months, solely 42 of them have been towards southpaws. He really produced a robust .219/.405/.344 line and 124 wRC+ in that break up due to a 16.7% stroll price, and despite a 42.9% strikeout price. However for his profession, he has a .210/.300/.330 line and a 76 wRC+ with out the platoon benefit.
In his 407 plate appearances towards righties this 12 months, his strikeout price was a much more palatable 21.4%. His 11.8% stroll price was fairly a robust, just a few ticks above league common. He additionally hit 22 house runs, which helped him produce a slash of .281/.392/.531 and a 154 wRC+.
General, Pederson hit .275/.393/.515 on the 12 months for a 151 wRC+, the second of the previous three years with very sturdy offensive manufacturing. He hit .274/.353/.521 with the Giants in 2022 for a 144 wRC+. San Francisco gave him a $19.65MM qualifying provide on the heels of that displaying, which he accepted. His batting line dropped to .235/.348/.416 in 2023, for a 109 wRC+, however the Snakes might have had a hunch that was unhealthy luck. His batting common on balls in play went from .310 in 2022 to .268 in 2023, regardless of his batted ball metrics staying sturdy. His BABIP corrected to .322 in 2024 and his total offense climbed again up together with it.
Even with that unfortunate dip final 12 months, Pederson has nonetheless managed to supply a 135 wRC+ over the previous three years mixed. Amongst gamers with a minimum of 1200 plate appearances in that timeframe, that determine is likely one of the prime 15 within the majors, simply forward of fellows like JosĂ© RamĂrez, Matt Olson and Rafael Devers. Pederson’s deficiencies put limits on his means to contribute, however he’s an enormous distinction maker on the plate. MLBTR predicted him for a two-year, $24MM contract as a part of the annual High 50 Free Brokers put up.
It’s comprehensible that the Diamondbacks would need Pederson again, as they noticed first-hand what a big impact he could make on the plate. Basic supervisor Mike Hazen has mentioned that he expects the 2025 payroll to be in the identical vary as 2024. RosterResource presently initiatives the membership for $149MM in spending subsequent 12 months, which is about $14MM shy of final 12 months’s Opening Day determine. Re-signing Pederson would eat up most of that however buying and selling a few of Jordan Montgomery’s wage may maybe create some further wiggle room for additional offseason strikes.
For the Rays, they often aren’t massive gamers in free company but it surely wouldn’t be unprecedented to do one thing like this. Simply two years in the past, they gave Zach Eflin a $40MM assure. RosterResource pegs them at $79MM for subsequent 12 months’s payroll, about $20MM shy of the place they began 2024. That might give them some room to work with this offseason, relying on how their ongoing stadium uncertainty goes to impression their spending plans.
By way of the roster development, it could be a little bit of a pivot for the Rays, as they often place a excessive worth on defensive versatility. The final time they’d one participant take greater than 400 plate appearances as a chosen hitter was Johnny Damon in 2011. But when they view Pederson as one of the best bat obtainable of their value vary, maybe they might be prepared to have him lock up the DH spot, a minimum of towards righties.
For the Rangers, as talked about by Rosenthal, squaring up right-handed pitching was a battle this 12 months. They put up a collective line of .238/.304/.379 for a wRC+ of 95, placing them within the backside third of the league. Putting in Pederson of their lineup can be essentially the most simple approach of enhancing that line in 2025. The membership didn’t have a strict designated hitter in 2024, so becoming Pederson in shouldn’t be too exhausting. 11 totally different gamers took a minimum of 22 journeys to the plate in that spot in 2024, with Wyatt Langford main the pack with 105 plate appearances. Pederson’s presence would make it harder to unfold across the DH time to so many guys, but it surely might be considered as price it, given how good he’s been on the plate just lately.
