In a move aimed at bolstering their chances of getting back to the World Series, the Texas Rangers have signed two-time champion outfielder Joc Pederson to a two-year, $37 million contract. The deal, which was finalized on Monday after Pederson passed his physical, includes an opt-out after the 2025 season and a mutual option for 2027.
Pederson Reunites with Seager in Texas
The signing reunites Pederson with Rangers shortstop Corey Seager, his teammate on the 2020 World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Seager was named World Series MVP when the Rangers won the title in 2023, their first season under manager Bruce Bochy.
It’s a great fit. A lot of our goals align. The Rangers obviously won a World Series in ’23, and they’re not satisfied. They want to continue to win. And I want to be in a place that wants to win. … It’s fun to get with Seager again.
– Joc Pederson on signing with the Rangers
Proven Postseason Performer
Pederson has established himself as a clutch October hitter. In 64 career playoff games, he has slugged 12 home runs with an .852 OPS. During the Dodgers’ neutral-site postseason run in 2020 at Globe Life Field, the Rangers’ home ballpark, Pederson hit a scorching .394 with three homers across 15 games.
- Career Postseason Stats
- .249 batting average
- 12 home runs
- 35 RBIs
- .852 OPS
Valuable Veteran Bat
The 32-year-old slugger is coming off a solid 2024 campaign with the Arizona Diamondbacks in which he hit .275 with 23 home runs and 64 RBIs across 132 games. For his career, the two-time All-Star owns a .241 batting average with 209 homers.
Year | Team | HR | RBI |
2022 | Giants | 23 | 70 |
2023 | Giants | 17 | 51 |
2024 | Diamondbacks | 23 | 64 |
Eyes on Ending Astros’ AL West Run
Pederson made it clear he’s coming to Texas to help the Rangers overtake the Houston Astros in the AL West. Houston has won the division in all seven full seasons since Texas last took the crown in 2016.
For the Astros … they’ve put together a nice little run and it’s coming to an end, and it’s time for us to take over the West. There’s lots of things that are going in the right direction for the Rangers to be on top of this division.
– Joc Pederson
With Pederson’s playoff pedigree, Seager’s MVP-caliber presence, and Bochy’s championship track record, the Rangers will enter 2025 with lofty expectations. After the bitter disappointment of missing the postseason a year after winning it all, they’re assembling the pieces to take another title run deep in the heart of Texas.