<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/rangers-news-joc-pederson-astros-nice-little-run-atop-al-west-coming-to-end');   ga('set', 'title', 'Joc Pederson says Astros’ ‘nice little run’ atop AL West is coming to end');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Rangers-news-Joc-Pederson-says-Astros-nice-little-run-atop-AL-West-is-coming-to-end.jpg"></figure><h1>Joc Pederson says Astros’ ‘nice little run’ atop AL West is coming to end</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-30T19:57:21-08:00">December 30th, 7:57pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-30T19:57:21-08:00">December 30th, 7:57pm</time><address><a>Dan Fappiano</a>Dan Fappiano is a Connecticut based sports journalist and a graduate of both Tunxis Community College and Central Connecticut State University. Dan has spent time covering high school and professional sports in both the print and online medium. He hopes to see his beloved Chicago Bears win a Super Bowl someday.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Texas <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rangers-news-texas-agrees-contract-joc-pederson-nathaniel-lowe-trade">Rangers signed Joc Pederson</a> mainly for the firepower he possesses in his bat. But alongside his power stroke, Pederson is re-igniting an AL West rivalry upon his arrival in Texas.</p><p>The Rangers landed Pederson on a two-year, $37 million contract. One of his first goals with the team is showing the Houston Astros <a href="https://x.com/kennlandry/status/1873863238087303676" rel="noopener">who truly runs the division</a>, via Kennedi Landry of MLB.com.</p><p>“We’ve played the Astros in the World Series,” Pederson said. “They’ve put together a nice little run. It’s coming to an end. It’s time for us to take over the West.”</p><p>Pederson was on the 2021 Atlanta Braves team that defeated the Astros in the World Series. Even watching from afar with the San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks, the slugger knows how good Houston has become. But now he plays in the same division and will play in active role the Rangers’ hopeful rise.</p><p>But while his rally cry is one thing, actually getting the job done is another. The Astros have won the AL West every year since 2021. Outside of the Oakland Athletics winning in the CO-VID19 shortened season, Houston’s streak dates back to 2017; seven AL West titles in the last eight years. The last time the Rangers won the West was in 2016.</p><p>But now Texas will have Joc Pederson’s powerful thump in the lineup. In his 132 games with the Diamondbacks in 2024, the lefty hit .275 with 23 home runs and 64 RBI. The Rangers will likely use Pederson predominantly against righties, who he hit .281 with 22 home runs and 60 RBI off of in 2024.</p><p>Pederson was an All-Star as recently as 2022. Over his 1,272 games at the major league level, he’s hit .241 with 209 home runs and 549 RBI. So while he’s opened his Rangers tenure running his mouth, Pederson has enough bat to back it up.</p><p>While Texas <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rangers-news-george-bush-chimes-in-with-congratulations-after-world-series-victory">may have the most recent World Series win</a>, Houston has undeniably been kings of the AL West. Pederson says that all stops in 2025.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Joc Pederson says Astros’ ‘nice little run’ atop AL West is coming to end

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/rangers-news-texas-signs-pitcher-after-joc-pederson');   ga('set', 'title', 'Rangers sign pitcher right after Joc Pederson move');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Rangers-news-Texas-signs-pitcher-right-after-Joc-Pederson-move.jpg"></figure><h1>Rangers sign pitcher right after Joc Pederson move</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-23T13:05:47-08:00">December 23rd, 1:05pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-23T13:36:00-08:00">December 23rd, 1:36pm</time><address><a>Russell Steinberg</a>Russell Steinberg covers Major League Baseball and the New York Liberty for ClutchPoints. A baseball and basketball lifer, he has written for Boardroom, SLAM, SB Nation, The Next, and more. He graduated from NYU in 2012 and still returns to serve as PA announcer and occasional broadcaster for the school’s basketball and volleyball teams.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rangers-news-texas-agrees-contract-joc-pederson-nathaniel-lowe-trade">signing two-time All-Star Joc Pederson</a> to a two-year deal on Monday morning, the Texas Rangers made an under-the-radar move, adding relief pitcher Shawn Armstrong.</p><p>Armstrong heads to Arlington <a href="https://x.com/Evan_P_Grant/status/1871285154473464007" rel="noopener">on a Major League deal</a>, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reported. The Rangers designated catcher Sam Huff for assignment as a corresponding move.</p><p>A right-handed veteran reliever, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cardinals-news-release-player-acquired-dylan-carlson-trade">Armstrong pitched for three teams</a> last year, his age 34 season. Between time with the Tampa Bay Rays, St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs, Armstrong made 57 appearances, pitching to a 4.86 ERA over 66.2 innings pitched. He also started seven games, all with the Rays.</p><p>No, it’s not the sort of big-name move that’s going to rock the baseball landscape, but it’s a low-risk, high reward one for the Rangers. Texas had one of the worst bullpens in baseball last year, ranking 26th out of 30 teams in bullpen ERA (4.41) and WHIP (1.370).</p><p>Among the culprits for the Rangers’ pen last year: 79 home runs allowed. Armstrong, despite his pedestrian numbers in 2024, allowed only six home runs in 2024, an average of 0.8 per nine innings.</p><p>Armstrong is primarily a fastball-changeup-sinker pitcher whose fastball sat around 93 mph last year — about 2 mph less than in 2022.</p><h2><b>The Rangers still have work to do on their 2025 bullpen</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Kirby-Yates-Rangers.jpg"><figcaption>Jerome Miron-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Armstrong isn’t the only bullpen arm the Rangers have added in the last couple days. On Sunday, Texas dealt <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nationals-news-nationals-acquiring-nathaniel-lowe-trade-with-rangers">Nathaniel Lowe to the Washington Nationals for lefty Robert Garcia</a>. Like Armstrong, Garcia’s numbers didn’t look great in 2024, but in 72 appearances he ceded just four long balls (0.6 HR/9). He also struck out 75 batters over 59.2 innings. Texas also brought in <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rangers-adding-intriguing-ex-brewers-bullpen-weapon">lefty Hoby Milner</a> earlier this month.</p><p>The Rangers’ bullpen wasn’t good in 2024, but there were some good pieces that are currently sitting in free agency and could come back as well.</p><p>It starts with All-Star closer Kirby Yates. Yates had one of the best years of his career in his age 37 season, compiling a 1.17 ERA and 0.827 WHIP to go with 33 saves for a team that won only 78 games in 2024. MLB Trade Rumors projects Yates to be worth <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/11/2024-25-top-50-mlb-free-agents-with-predictions.html" rel="noopener">$14 million</a> in 2025, but without a clear closer candidate in the bullpen as it is, Texas just might want to spend the money.</p><p>There’s not an obvious closer candidate because veteran relief pitcher <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rangers-news-david-robertson-makes-7-million-decision-rangers-contract">David Robertson is also a free agent</a>. After he struck out 99 batters over 72 innings last year with a 3.00 ERA, Robertson declined a mutual option to rejoin Texas in 2025. He would have been due $7 million, so if the Rangers are going to bring him back anyway, it will likely have to be for a number north of that.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Rangers sign pitcher right after Joc Pederson move

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb-rumors-mets-interest-joc-pederson-rangers-deal');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: Mets showed interest in Joc Pederson prior to Rangers deal');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MLB-rumors-Mets-showed-interest-in-Joc-Pederson-prior-to-Rangers-deal.jpg"></figure><h1>MLB rumors: Mets showed interest in Joc Pederson prior to Rangers deal</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-23T09:50:27-08:00">December 23rd, 9:50am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-23T09:50:27-08:00">December 23rd, 9:50am</time><address><a>Russell Steinberg</a>Russell Steinberg covers Major League Baseball and the New York Liberty for ClutchPoints. A baseball and basketball lifer, he has written for Boardroom, SLAM, SB Nation, The Next, and more. He graduated from NYU in 2012 and still returns to serve as PA announcer and occasional broadcaster for the school’s basketball and volleyball teams.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Veteran outfielder and designated hitter <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rangers-news-texas-agrees-contract-joc-pederson-nathaniel-lowe-trade">Joc Pederson is headed to the Texas Rangers</a> on a two-year deal, but the left-handed hitter could have gone to the New York Mets instead.</p><p>The New York Mets <a href="https://x.com/JonHeyman/status/1871201675312263274" rel="noopener">were interested</a> in acquiring Pederson, who spent 2024 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.</p><p>The Mets have already had an eventful offseason, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-mets-aggressive-yet-smart-plan-juan-soto-765-million-contract">signing Juan Soto</a> to a massive 15-year, $765 million contract, then taking <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mets-news-clay-holmes-rivals-new-york-yankees-trade-fans">ex-Yankees closer Clay Holmes</a> to bolster their starting rotation. They also <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mets-news-sean-manaea-agrees-to-3-year-contract-with-mets">re-signed starting pitcher Sean Manaea</a> on Sunday night as their full roster starts to take shape.</p><p>In total, Mets owner Steve Cohen has spent close to $1 billion on his team this winter, and the club isn’t complete just yet. Now that they’ve missed on Pederson, the team is expected to work toward <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/perfect-contract-mets-offer-re-sign-pete-alonso">bringing back first baseman Pete Alonso</a>, the last remaining major player on the board at that position.</p><p>The Mets may also look to add one more infielder and <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/12/23/sports/mets-nearing-billion-dollar-offseason-with-sean-manaea-contract/" rel="noopener">another bullpen arm</a>, according to Justin Tasch of the New York Post.</p><h2><b>Joc Pederson goes to the Rangers after a career year in Arizona</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Joc-Pederson.jpg"><figcaption>Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Pederson is going to Arlington — not the Mets — on a two-year deal worth $37 million <a href="https://x.com/Buster_ESPN/status/1871180944952242378" rel="noopener">with an opt-out</a> after year one, ESPN’s Buster Olney reported. With an AAV of $18.5 million, Pederson is taking advantage of arguably the best season of his career.</p><p>Pederson, who made $9.5 million last year for the Diamondbacks, had a mutual option with the club worth $14 million for 2025. In his age 32 season, Pederson hit .275 with 23 home runs and a career-best .908 OPS.</p><p>The one downside for the Rangers is that Pederson was a full-time designated hitter in 2024. He has not played the field since his time with the San Francisco Giants, where he primarily played left. With Jake Burger taking up first base for the Rangers and the quartet of Ardolis Garcia, Wyatt Langford, Evan Carter and Leody Taveras already patrolling the outfield, Pederson can be a depth piece at either position, but will also probably spend the bulk of his time at DH.</p><p>That is, of course, unless Texas swings a trade before the offseason ends.</p><p>The Rangers, who won the 2023 World Series, are coming off a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rangers-blame-missing-2024-postseason">disappointing 78-84 season</a> in 2024. But with the Houston Astros losing Kyle Tucker and probably Alex Bregman, the American League West will be up for grabs next season. Provided Jacob deGrom comes back healthy and Kumar Rocker can put together a complete season in the Majors, there’s no reason to think the Rangers won’t be contenders again in 2025.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB rumors: Mets showed interest in Joc Pederson prior to Rangers deal

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/rangers-news-texas-agrees-contract-joc-pederson-nathaniel-lowe-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'Rangers agree to contract with Joc Pederson after Nathaniel Lowe trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Rangers-news-Texas-agrees-to-contract-with-Joc-Pederson-after-Nathaniel-Lowe-trade.jpg"></figure><h1>Rangers agree to contract with Joc Pederson after Nathaniel Lowe trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-23T05:16:56-08:00">December 23rd, 5:16am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-23T05:34:12-08:00">December 23rd, 5:34am</time><address><a>Christopher Hennessy</a>Christopher Hennessy graduated with a journalism degree from Fordham University in 2022. He has also worked at Spectrum News One in Albany, New York and with The Hockey Writers as a New York Islanders writer. Chris is originally from Connecticut and is a lifelong New York Yankees, Islanders, and Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Texas Rangers had an incredibly disappointing 2024 season. They missed the playoffs after winning their first World Series due to a litany of injuries. After <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nationals-news-nationals-acquiring-nathaniel-lowe-trade-with-rangers">trading Nathaniel Lowe to the Washington Nationals</a>, they had a massive hole in the lineup. The Rangers signed Joc Pederson to a two-year free-agency contract after a stint with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal <a href="https://x.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/1871131304974266423" rel="noopener">reported the news early Monday morning</a>.</p><p>“Free agent designated hitter Joc Pederson in agreement with Rangers, sources tell The Athletic,” Rosenthal reported.</p><p>ESPN’s Buster Olney reported Pederson’s <a href="https://x.com/Buster_ESPN/status/1871180944952242378" rel="noopener">contract at two years</a>, $37 million.</p><p>Pederson had one of the best years of his career in his one season with the Diamondbacks. His .908 OPS was the highest of his career as was his .275 batting average. The issue for the Rangers is that he did not play the field at all last year. He was an outfielder in the first decade of his career.</p><p>The Rangers do not need a first baseman, as Jake Burger was brought in and can play the position. Pederson can slot in as the designated hitter and Burger as the first baseman to fill out the lineup. But Pederson can play the outfield which may signal another trade coming.</p><h2><b>Rangers must continue to move after adding Joc Pederson</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Joc-Pederson-with-AZ-Diamondbacks.jpg"><figcaption>Owen Ziliak/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK</figcaption></figure><p>The Rangers won only 78 games last year but the American League West has gotten worse this offseason. The Astros lost Kyle Tucker and will likely lose Alex Bregman in free agency. While the Mariners had a strong start to last season, they still have massive questions. And the Angels and Athletics were not competitive last season. The Rangers can make a move back into the playoffs with an active offseason.</p><p>There are some things that they don’t even need to spend on to improve from last year. Their rotation should be healthier with Jacob deGrom coming back. Kumar Rocker should be a permanent member of the group and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rangers-news-reunion-nathan-eovaldi-in-free-agency">Nathan Eovaldi is back</a>. But they can trade a franchise legend to bring in more offense.</p><p>Adolis Garcia won the ALCS MVP and will never have to buy a drink in the greater Dallas area. But he is an unrestricted free agency after 2026 and would have value in a trade. The Mariners could use a hitter like Garcia, as could the Reds and Pirates. The Rangers should target young hitters who can make an impact soon if they deal Garcia.</p><p>After a brutal 2024 season, the Rangers are moving toward a competitive 2025 season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Rangers agree to contract with Joc Pederson after Nathaniel Lowe trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/diamondbacks-news-arizona-mixed-bag-joc-pederson-merrill-kelly-contract-updatess');   ga('set', 'title', 'Diamondbacks get mixed bag of Joc Pederson, Merrill Kelly contract updates');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/0-Arizona-gets-mixed-bag-of-Joc-Pederson-Merrill-Kelly-contract-updatess-0.jpg"></figure><h1>Diamondbacks get mixed bag of Joc Pederson, Merrill Kelly contract updates</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-02T11:11:11-07:00">November 2nd, 11:11am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-02T11:12:24-07:00">November 2nd, 11:12am</time><address><a href="https://haydencilley.wixsite.com/hayden-cilley-s-port">Hayden Cilley</a>Hayden Cilley joined ClutchPoints in August 2024 as a Phoenix Suns and Mercury reporter, as well as an Associate Editor. Hayden graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University while covering events like the 2023 NCAA Men's Final Four, the 2024 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and the Arizona State men's swim and dive team. He recently covered the Phoenix Mercury for The Next Hoops and PHNX Sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Arizona Diamondbacks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Arizona Diamondbacks find themselves with an interesting update about Joc Pederson and Merrill Kelly’s contract situations. Pederson has declined his end of a <a href="https://x.com/JesseRogersESPN/status/1852759380925530113" rel="noopener">mutual option</a>, source tells ESPN, according to Jesse Rogers. Not to mention that Arizona is picking up Merrill Kelly’s <a href="https://x.com/JonHeyman/status/1852756962267611318" rel="noopener">$7 million option</a>, according to Jon Heyman of The New York Post.</p><p>One of the most consistent Diamondbacks players could be on the move. On the flip side, Kelly is staying in The Valley after an injury-riddled 2024 season.</p><p>Pederson had arguably the best season of his 11-year career. He batted .275 with 23 home runs and 64 RBIs. He also had a .908 OPS, the highest of his career. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/diamondbacks-news-joc-pederson-plan-signing-one-year-deal-arizona">Pederson signed a one-year deal with Arizona</a> and proved that he’s worthy of a nice contract.</p><p>Although it was the fourth time he signed a one-year contract, his production was a constant for a fickle Diamondbacks team. Also, he played in 132 games, a metric that many Arizona players had less of due to injury, especially Kelly.</p><p>He was one of those who was bitten by the injury bug. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/diamondbacks-news-arizona-merrill-kelly-having-fun-after-missing-4-months">Kelly was on the 60-day IL and missed four months</a> with a shoulder injury. Although he went 5-1, he had his highest ERA since the 2021 season. Kelly was working his way back but missed a big chunk of the season. His availability could’ve had Arizona back in the playoffs.</p><h2><b>Will Joc Pederson and Merrill Kelly stay with the Diamondbacks, long-term?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Joc-Pederson-Merrill-Kelly-highlight-Diamondbacks-immediate-offseason-moves.jpg"><figcaption>© Troy Taormina-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Pederson had a “prove-it” year by signing that one-year deal. The Arizona designated hitter had his best season at 32 years old. Still, he might demand a more lucrative and longer contract. Considering his age, it might cause some skepticism from the front office about extending Pederson. Still, the production is impressive, considering he was known as mostly a power hitter.</p><p>For Kelly, he’s likely to be the mainstay. He and Zac Gallen have been the No. 1 and No. 2 pitchers on the starting unit. Kelly’s mix of velocity, movement, and a variety of pitches make hitters frequently guess. Also, he’s one of the most reliable pitchers in the league. For instance, he threw 200.1 innings in 2022 and 177.2 innings in 2023 as the No. 2 ace. That metric goes a long way, especially in playoff time.</p><p>As of now, nothing has been said if Pederson will be extended. He could be in line for an extension at a later date. Kelly could have the same scenario as Pederson next season if he outperforms his contract.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2025 SEASON STATS
BA	HR	RBI	OPS	SB
.100	0	0	0.282	0

2025 SEASON STATS
BA	HR	RBI	OPS	SB
.100	0	0	0.282	0

Joc Pederson

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