Free-agent outfielder/designated hitter Joc Pederson has agreed to a deal with the Texas Rangers, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.
The 32-year-old Pederson hit 23 home runs to go along with 64 RBI, a .275 batting average and a career-high .908 OPS in 2024. His 151 OPS+ was a career-best mark as well, per Baseball-Reference.
Pederson began his career in 2014 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, playing there through 2020 when he won a World Series with the team. He spent a half-year with the Chicago Cubs after landing with the team in free agency before being traded to Atlanta on July 15, 2021.
Pederson was a huge reason why Atlanta won its first World Series since 1995, notably hitting a pair of home runs against the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS. He added a much-needed lefty-power bat to the lineup en route to helping guide the Braves to the Fall Classic.
Pederson then left Atlanta for San Francisco in free agency on a one-year deal and delivered the power, smacking 23 home runs alongside an .874 OPS in his second-ever All-Star campaign.
After the 2022 season, Pederson re-signed with the Giants on a one-year, $19,650,000 contract. His 2023 campaign was not as good as 2022, but he still had 15 home runs, 51 RBI and a .764 OPS. Early-season injuries hindered his ceiling and held him to 121 games played.
Pederson stayed in the NL West after the year thanks to a one-year, $9.5 million contract (2025 mutual option) with the then-defending league champs in the Arizona Diamondbacks. Understandably, Pederson declined that option to enter free agency, hoping to parlay his excellent 2024 season into a more lucrative deal.
On Dec. 2, Rosenthal of The Athletic provided an update on Pederson, writing in part.
"Several clubs looking for a left-handed hitting DH are intrigued by Joc Pederson, who in 449 plate appearances for the Arizona Diamondbacks last season hit 23 home runs and produced a career-high .908 OPS.
"The Diamondbacks want Pederson back. The Tampa Bay Rays also could use him, though it's doubtful any free agent with options will choose to play at a minor-league ballpark in the summer Florida heat. The Texas Rangers are a more intriguing fit."
The Rangers were World Series champions in 2023 but faltered in 2024 largely due to a host of injuries and underperformances. They can't hope to recapture that 2023 magic without reloading the team. Enter Pederson, who should slide right into the designated hitter spot and immediately bolster a below-average offense that finished just eighth in the AL in runs.