Report: Rangers, Pederson agree to 2-year, $37M deal
The Texas Rangers and veteran slugger Joc Pederson agreed to a two-year contract worth $37 million, ESPN's Buster Olney reports.
The contract contains an opt-out after the 2025 season.
The New York Mets also showed interest in Pederson before he signed with the Rangers, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Pederson spent the 2024 campaign with the Arizona Diamondbacks and slashed .275/.393/.515 with 23 home runs, 62 runs scored, and 74 RBIs across 132 games as a designated hitter.
He gives Rangers manager Bruce Bochy another strong bat against right-handed pitching after the club dealt first baseman Nathaniel Lowe to the Washington Nationals for reliever Robert Garcia on Sunday.
Projected 2025 Rangers lineup
| Order | Player | Position | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Marcus Semien | 2B | .699 |
| 2. | Corey Seager | SS | .865 |
| 3. | Wyatt Langford | LF | .740 |
| 4. | Joc Pederson | DH | .908 |
| 5. | Adolis García | RF | .684 |
| 6. | Josh Jung | 3B | .719 |
| 7. | Evan Carter | CF | .633 |
| 8. | Jake Burger | 1B | .761 |
| 9. | Jonah Heim | C | .603 |
Pederson posted a .923 OPS with 22 home runs in 335 at-bats against righties in 2024.
The 32-year-old will look to help boost a Rangers lineup that finished last season 18th in home runs (176) and tied for 23rd in OPS (.685).