Arizona Diamondbacks agree to deal with slugger Joc Pederson, source says
The Arizona Diamondbacks and free-agent slugger Joc Pederson are in agreement on a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2025, a source said on Thursday, a signing that will fulfill the club’s desire for a middle-of-the-lineup bat.
The deal guarantees Pederson $12.5 million — $9.5 million in salary for this year and $3 million on a buyout for the $14 million option.
Pederson, who turns 32 in April, is coming off a somewhat pedestrian season with the San Francisco Giants, for whom he hit .235/.348/.416 with 15 homers in 358 at-bats.
However, his batted-ball data suggested a degree of poor luck in his results, and he is just a year removed from a stellar season in which he posted a .274/.353/.521 line with 23 homers. The two-time All-Star was an integral part of two World Series championship teams, the Dodgers in 2020 and the Braves the following season.
Pederson should give the Diamondbacks a potent weapon against right-handed pitching, against whom he owns a career .834 OPS. He has struggled against lefties, posting just a .622 OPS.
Pederson saw the bulk of his action at designated hitter last year with the Giants. He has been rated as a poor defensive outfielder for the majority of his career.
The Diamondbacks’ interest in Pederson was first reported Thursday morning by ESPN’s Buster Olney.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Source: DBacks agree to deal with slugger Joc Pederson
