Giants Have Discussed New Contract With Joc Pederson

Much more has gone incorrect than proper for the 2022 Giants, however the group’s offseason signing of outfielder Joc Pederson to a one-year, $6MM contract has confirmed to be a shrewd funding. Pederson has hit properly in his first season as a Big, and he’s apparently made an excellent impression on the group in all aspects, as president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi stated in an look on KNBR’s Tolbert & Copes present yesterday that he’s had discussions with Pederson and his agent about re-signing him (link to full 23-minute interview).

“We’d like to have him again subsequent 12 months,” Zaidi stated when requested what the long run held for Pederson. “We’ve talked some to his consultant. I’ve talked to Joc about it himself. He’s from right here. He’s performed properly. He was an All-Star for us.”

Pederson, 30, has certainly loved a powerful 12 months in San Francisco. The Palo Alto native has appeared in 107 video games, tallied 348 plate appearances and slashed .263/.339/.519 with 20 residence runs, 17 doubles and three stolen bases (in 5 makes an attempt). He’s walked at an 8.6% clip, and this 12 months’s 21.6% strikeout charge is his lowest mark since 2019 (and tied for the third-lowest of his profession). The Giants have shielded him from lefties nearly solely — he has simply 46 plate appearances in opposition to same-handed opponents — however that’s nothing new for Pederson, who carries only a .210/.285/.334 batting line in opposition to southpaws (in comparison with .240/.342/.494 in opposition to righties).

It’s been the very best offensive displaying for Pederson since his career-high 36 residence runs again in 2019, however defensive metrics on the slugger are down throughout the board. Every of Defensive Runs Saved (-7), Final Zone Score (-6.6) and Outs Above Common (-6) are vital of Pederson’s glovework. He’s additionally spent 10 video games at designated hitter for the Giants, although, and Pederson’s pop in opposition to right-handed pitching is lots enough to fill that function if the Giants are involved about his defensive work transferring ahead.

If Pederson does attain the market, he’ll be one of many extra interesting choices on a reasonably skinny marketplace for nook outfield bats. Aaron Judge, after all, is the highest free agent available on the market, and Andrew Benintendi will probably be in a pleasant place heading into his age-28 season on the heels of a powerful all-around displaying. Past that pairing, Pederson will slot into the subsequent tier alongside names like Mitch Haniger, Joey Gallo and Jurickson Profar (who appears prone to decide out of the ultimate 12 months of his Padres contract).

As with every potential free agent, Pederson’s return (or his departure) is basically depending on the context of the roster round him. In-house outfield choices for the Giants subsequent 12 months embrace Austin Slater, LaMonte Wade Jr., Luis Gonzalez and Mike Yastrzemski — to say nothing of prospects Heliot Ramos, Luis Matos and Vaun Brown. Ramos and Matos, nevertheless, have had down seasons within the minors, simply as Yastrzemski has within the massive leagues. Struggles however, nevertheless, Zaidi implied that the group plans to tender a contract to Yastrzemski in arbitration this winter and retain him for the 2023 marketing campaign.

“It’s simply been a down season for him,” Zaidi stated of Yastrzemski. “He’s been pissed off. Final 12 months, the batting common wasn’t there however he nonetheless hit 25 homers, so you continue to had offensive manufacturing in a sure approach. He’s nonetheless a man who brings a ton of intangibles to the desk. He’s a fantastic defensive participant. We view him as a part of this group going ahead, and I do know he’s going to be as motivated as anyone to return again robust subsequent 12 months.”

Yastrzemski, who simply turned 32 a pair weeks in the past, will probably be due a increase on this 12 months’s $3.7MM wage however has stumbled to a .203/.303/.361 batting line in 439 plate appearances. He’s nonetheless drawing walks at a powerful 11.6% clip, nevertheless, and Yastrzemski’s strikeout charge, exit velocity, hard-hit charge and broader batted-ball profile are all fairly just like his prior, extra productive seasons.

The Giants can management Yastrzemski for 3 extra years past the present marketing campaign, so there’s good cause to position a fairly low-cost wager on a rebound if the group doesn’t imagine his ability set has begun to say no. That stated, each Yastrzemski and Pederson are left-handed hitting outfielders who may require platoon companions — Yastrzesmki has struggled severely in opposition to lefties in every of the previous two seasons — so the extent to which the Giants once more wish to lean on a platoon, matchup-based outfield set will drive the choices on each gamers. In the interim, it sounds as if the Giants are open to once more leaning closely on each lefties within the outfield once more subsequent season.