The Cincinnati Reds are going to be buying this offseason as they look to turn their franchise around under the guidance of legendary manager Terry Francona.
Francona retired a few years ago, but was coaxed out of retirement by the Reds. Cincinnati and Francona wouldn’t have come together on a deal if the long-time Guardians manager didn’t believe Cincinnati was serious about winning.
Step one in that process is going to be winning free agency and getting the talent to the Queen City.
And the ideal free agent target has landed on the open market after declining the mutual option on his contract.
Norm Hall/Getty Images
Arizona Diamondbacks designated hitter Joc Pederson has opted out of his $14 million mutual option, ESPN’s Jesse Rogers reported Saturday, effectively making him a free agent this offseason.
Pederson, 32, slashed .275/.393/.515 as a DH in 2024. Across 132 games and 367 at-bats, Pederson slugged 23 home runs. The lefty has averaged 26 home runs per 162 games over the last three seasons.
Pederson’s .515 slugging percentage would have ranked first among qualified players on the 2024 Reds roster.
According to Baseball Savant, Pederson would have benefited a bit from playing in the hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park, too. Baseball Savant states that Pederson would have had 24 home runs in Cincinnati compared to the 23 home runs in Arizona.
That’s not a huge difference, but Baseball Savant also states that Pederson would have 229 career home runs in Cincinnati compared to the 195 that he actually has. It’s just a hypothetical, but it’s something to think about.
Cincinnati could use a middle-of-the-lineup bat to hit behind its dangerous shortstop, Elly De La Cruz.
More MLB: In Bounce-Back Mode, Braves Extend Two Key Pitchers After Disappointing Season