The Texas Rangers have reached an agreement with free agent designated hitter Joc Pederson, as reported by an individual familiar with the situation on Monday.
This source requested anonymity as the contract is still pending a physical examination.
Joc Pederson will be joining the Rangers after previously playing for different teams over the last two years.
Following a lackluster performance in 2023 with the San Francisco Giants, Pederson managed to turn things around by having an impressive season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he posted a career-high .275 batting average, hit 23 home runs, and drove in 64 runs.
This signing could also pave the way for the Rangers to solidify Jake Burger, a powerful corner infielder, as their main first baseman.
Burger, who previously had designated hitter experience, was acquired from the Miami Marlins earlier this month.
The announcement of Pederson’s contract comes just a day after the Rangers traded Nathaniel Lowe, who had been the team’s first baseman for four seasons, to the Washington Nationals in exchange for left-handed reliever Robert Garcia.
At 32, Pederson started his major league career as an outfielder with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he spent his first six seasons.
He was selected as an All-Star during his rookie year in 2015.
The Rangers are currently navigating some uncertainties in their outfield lineup.
During his last year in LA, Pederson faced challenges, notably in the season when the Dodgers won the World Series in a neutral site at the Rangers’ stadium in 2020.
Following that season, he signed as a free agent with the Chicago Cubs, was traded to the Atlanta Braves during the same year, and then spent the subsequent offseasons with the Giants before making his way to the Diamondbacks last January.
Throughout his career, Pederson has achieved impressive numbers, including his personal best of 36 home runs and 74 RBIs in the 2019 season with the Dodgers.
Last season with the Diamondbacks, he achieved his highest OPS of .908.
Pederson hails from the Bay Area and boasts a career batting average of .241, alongside 209 home runs and 549 RBIs.
He made his second All-Star appearance while playing for the Giants in 2022.
