Giants agree to contract with outfielder Jock Pederson, reported by John Morosi of MLB Network. He will receive $6 million in a one-year deal, Pederson said. John Heyman of MLB Network. Pederson is represented by Excel Sports Management.
Pederson, 30 in April, posted 94 wRC+ in 481 appearances for the Cubs and Braves last year, joining Atlanta in one of Chicago’s many July trades. Pederson has won World Series rings in each of his last two seasons with the Dodgers and Braves. He was especially effective in the NLDS against the Brewers last year, hitting a couple of home runs and inspiring Braves fans to wear pearl necklaces. Pederson will spend his 2022 season less than an hour from where he played and attended high school in Palo Alto, California.
A southpaw forward, Pederson has long struggled with southpaws and signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the Cubs in January 2021 in part because he was keen to avoid a platoon situation. Ironically, as of 2020, Pederson has 99 wRC+ points in 122 matches against left-handers, but only 91 points against right-handers. From 2015 to 2019 as a Dodger, Pederson set right-handers on fire to 132 wRC+ which ranked 21st in the game during that time. Assuming Pederson can reclaim some of that success, he would pair well with a right hand. Austin Slater.
Although Pederson has played a lot in midfield in his career, corners are more suitable for him at this stage. Giants have Lamonte Wade Jr.., Stephen Duggar, Mike Yastrzemsky, Darin Roofand Slater as field staff, but they also received full-time employment at DH for the first time in their history.
Two members of the 2021 Field Club have found new homes today. Alex Dickerson signing a one-year contract with Atlanta and Chris Bryant signing a seven-year, $182 million contract with division rival Rockies. The Giants’ interest in keeping Bryant seemed minimal. Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi has avoided major free agent contracts in his four years in office, with his recent two-year, $44 million contract for Carlos Rodon highlighting his biggest expense. Giants also allowed Kevin Gausman move to greener pastures this winter, opting instead to distribute wealth among veteran free agents on short-term deals. Zaidi was the general manager of the Dodgers before joining the Giants, so he got to know Pederson well when they were both at Los Angeles.
Pederson’s signing is part of a wave of outfield deals as the Phillies signed today Kyle SchwarberThe brave ones brought Eddie Rosario ago, and the Rockies signed Bryant to a mega-deal. Several quality bats remain free agents, including Nick Castellanos, Michael Conforto, Tommy Famas well as Jorge Soler.