Diamondbacks sign former SF Giants, Dodgers All-Star slugger
Evan Longoria left the SF Giants for the Arizona Diamondbacks and made it to the World Series. Now another Giants veteran is moving south, but staying in the National League West. Per Steve Gilbert of MLB.com, the Dbacks have agreed to a one-year contract with Pederson (#40-ranked free agent) that includes a mutual option for the 2025 season. It was reported on Thursday that the two sides were nearing a deal.
After two seasons with the Giants, Pederson has agreed to a one-year contract that guarantees him $12 million. He will receive a $9.5 million salary in 2024, and his mutual option includes a $2.5 million buyout if it is declined.
Coming off a National League pennant, the Diamondbacks have apparently chosen Pederson as their primary designated hitter. He joins an outfield group featuring Rookie of the Year Corbin Carroll, emerging star Alek Thomas, and a re-signed Lourdes Gurriel.
It's a heavily left-handed outfield, with Carroll, Thomas, Pavin Smith, and Jake McCarthy all hitting from that side, but let's just say they're only playing the lead-gloved Pederson in the outfield if things have gone very wrong. Realistically, he's going to be the left-handed half of a platoon at designated hitter, likely splitting time with whatever right-handed third baseman isn't starting that day for the D-Backs.
Arizona is also hoping Pederson's power plays well at Chase Field. He's slashed 214/.306/.441 for his career there, but his isolated power is impressive. Of Pederson's 36 career hits in that ballpark, nine were home runs and 19 were extra-base hits.
While the healthy salary and the DH role were both appealing for Pederson, we wonder if Arizona had extra appeal because Pederson would be taking a roster spot away from his fantasy football rival, Tommy Pham. Last year, the New York Mets traded Pham to Arizona August 1, and he did well for them in the playoffs, hitting .429 in their World Series loss.
Of course, Pham is perhaps best known for slapping Pederson before a game - over a fantasy football beef. Allegedly, Pederson was stashing desirable players on injured reserve, a practice Pham found slap-worthy - especially after Pederson posted an anti-San Diego Padres meme in the league's group chat. Can you imagine?
Pederson did painstakingly describe the back story of the incident to the media, because when do men ever pass up an opportunity to talk about their fantasy teams to a disinterested audience?
Pederson signed with the Giants before the 2022 season, and the Palo Alto native responded with an All-Star season. He slashed 274/.353/.521, finishing with 23 home runs and 70 RBIs. Pederson hit only six home runs after the All-Star break, but he actually hit better in the second half, batting over .300.
Before the 2022 season, Pederson accepted the Giants' qualifying offer of $19.65 million. It wasn't exactly a bargain deal, as Pederson regressed to a .235/.348/.416 line. He was also reportedly one of the team's veterans obsessed with "pusoy", a Filipino card game that apparently dominated certain players' attention during the team's late-season slide. Although that felt like an easy scapegoat for a broader organizational collapse.
Despite talk of his improved defense and some dubious reports of his learning to play first base, Pederson spent most of his time at DH with some time in the outfield, though he did spend four innings there and handled three chances successfully. Overall, he was worth -4 defensive runs in just over 200 innings.
At this point in his career, Joc Pederson is a full-time DH who technically still owns an outfielder glove. For the Diamondbacks, loaded with young outfield talent, that's just fine with them. Pederson should be a solid addition.
