The San Francisco Giants’ former All-Star bat has drawn interest from the Toronto Blue Jays. The SF Giants are not going to look into getting back together with seasoned hitter Joc Pederson. But according to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet, the Toronto Blue Jays have renewed their interest in Pederson while also expressing interest in Michael Brantley and Jorge Solar.
It’s interesting to note that Davidi claims Toronto is rekindling its interest in Pederson, indicating that they had previously targeted him in the offseason. Concurrently, the Los Angeles Dodgers might look into getting the left-handed hitter back.
We examined whether certain non-tendered players may hurt Pederson’s market earlier in the offseason because of their similar skill sets. The veteran bat does have one advantage over some designated hitters on the market: a far better track record.
He inked a one-year, $6 million contract with the Giants for 2022. That proved to be a wise decision for all involved, as he earned an invitation to the NL All-Star game and finished with a.274/.353/.521 line (144 OPS+), 23 home runs, 70 RBI, and 57 runs in 433 plate appearances.
Last year, Pederson made a brief return to free agency. He accepted the $19.65 million, one-year qualifying offer from the Giants. This was a ploy to avoid having to sign a multiyear contract.
As is frequently the case with one-year contracts, the Giants paid a premium for the veteran bat’s one-year service. This was a poor decision because in 425 plate appearances, he only managed 15 home runs and a.235/.348/.416 line (111 OPS+). He was the Giants’ primary designated hitter, and he’ll probably continue to play that position with other teams in the future.
Though his power numbers have vanished, he and his agents will probably pitch teams on his strong on-base percentage of.348 and his consistent batted ball profile, which held up despite a decline in output.
Pederson would not be under as much pressure to perform as he was under in San Francisco because the Blue Jays have a strong core of position players. It’s interesting to note that Toronto wants to take over for former Giants first baseman Brandon Belt, who is considering his options regarding his playing career.
If Belt decides he wants to play again, the Blue Jays might be interested in getting back together. Toronto is currently reaching far to include another experienced bat in the lineup.