The Hot Stove is heating up in Atlanta, with Alex Anthopoulos striking a deal with the Angels to send Jorge Soler and the entirety of his $32 million contract to Los Angeles in exchange for Griffin Canning. The move gave the Braves financial flexibility, and another free agent target has appeared on the market.
According to Jesse Rogers, Joc Pederson has declined his side of a mutual option and has now entered the free agent market
The heart and soul of the 2021 World Series team has been a mercenary of sorts since leaving Atlanta. Pederson has spent the last three seasons playing on one-year contracts with two different clubs.
He’s coming off the best statistical season of his career, recording 23 home runs and an OPS north of .900 for the Diamondbacks. Joc Pederson is aging like a fine win, with a 137 OPS+ since 2022.
There aren’t many more beloved players in Braves Country than Pederson, but there’s a potential roadblock to a deal getting done — Jarred Kelenic. Atlanta took on a lot of money to acquire the former 6th overall pick, and though his first season with the club didn’t go as anyone expected, is Alex Anthopoulos ready to wave the white flag on the experiment?
New hitting coach Tim Hyers should be a positive influence on Kelenic, but it would be asinine to put all of the Braves’ eggs in his basket. If they truly believe he’s on the cusp of putting it all together, signing Joc Pederson would be a redundant addition to the outfield.
However, if the Braves aren’t confident in Jarred Kelenic at all, Pederson should be high on the club’s free agent wishlist.
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Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire
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