The Philadelphia Phillies and the Arizona Diamondbacks are not in the same division. They only play each other seven times in the regular season. Even still, it hurts to witness the club that eliminated the Phillies in October continue to make moves while Philadelphia’s front management appears to have fallen asleep at the wheel.
The Diamondbacks and veteran Joc Pederson agreed to a one-year, $9.5 million contract on Thursday, according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. The agreement also contains a $14 million mutual option in 2025. It’s just the latest move for a team that was considered an upstart when it made the playoffs last year, but is now looking to establish its status as one of the National League’s teams to beat in 2024 and beyond.
No, he was not hinting at anything. In reality, the team and Pederson hadn’t even spoken. It was simply Joc being Joc.
Pederson, 31, is mostly a lefty DH platoon hitter, though he did appear in few games as a corner outfielder for the San Francisco Giants last year. With the Diamondbacks’ outfield, it would be surprising if he pulled the glove out very frequently.
In San Francisco last year, he batted.235 and belted 15 home runs in 358 at bats. Pederson has a.301 batting average,.915 OPS, eight home runs, and a 150 wRC+ against the Phillies in 156 at-bats across his 10-year career, which includes a half-season in Atlanta in 2021.
Let’s take a look back at what the 2023 National League champions have been doing this winter. They began with a November deal that brought slugging third baseman Eugenio Suárez from the Seattle Mariners. He hasn’t hit for average since 2019, but has 84 home runs in the previous three seasons. Leaving T-Mobile Park, the league’s worst hitter’s park, will only make him more dangerous.
Arizona also acquired starter Eduardo Rodriguez, who inked a four-year, $80 million contract in December. The southpaw posted a 3.30 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with the Tigers last season and joins the Diamondbacks’ already strong staff behind Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly.
