The Texas Rangers missed the postseason in 2024, finishing with a 78-84 record and third place in the American League West.
After winning the World Series in 2023, the Rangers suffered a bit of a championship hangover as they failed to make the postseason in the year of their title defense.
While injuries likely played a role for the Rangers last year, they added some key pieces to their roster this offseason to try to get back to the postseason in 2025.
The most recent acquisition involves a two-year deal that implies a declining Joc Pederson.
MLB analyst Russell Dorsey revealed what he thinks about Pederson.
“Joc Pederson might be the best value on the market this year,” Dorsey said via MLB Network “X.”
“Joc (Pederson) might be the best value on the market this year.”@Russ_Dorsey1: reacts to the Rangers’ reported trade for the left-handed slugger #MLBNHotStove. pic.twitter.com/CCbJN058UO
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 23, 2024
Pederson is 32 years old and entered the league in 2014 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he played for seven seasons before bouncing around the last few seasons.
With the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2024, Pederson played 132 games and batted .275 with 23 home runs, 64 RBI and a .908 OPS.
Dorsey notes that Pederson played his first year exclusively as the designated hitter last year, and that allowed him to be effective throughout the season.
The Rangers have only made the postseason once in the past eight seasons, but that one appearance led to their first World Series title in franchise history.
With the addition of Pederson, the Rangers’ lineup looks solid as they prepare for the 2025 season and seek their second World Series title in the last three seasons.
NEXT: Jack Leiter continues his nightmare start to the season
