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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.