“The time has come for us to conquer the West.”

Joc Pederson and the Texas Rangers have agreed to a two-year, $37 million contract, and the slugger is preparing to start with his new team.

The 32-year-old finished the season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, playing most of the year as a DH. After successfully completing his medical exam on Monday, Pederson said at his induction press conference:

“We played the Astros in the World Series. They did a great job. The end is near. It’s time for us to conquer the West.”

“I think it’s a great fit,” Pederson said. “A lot of our goals are aligned…I want to be in a place where I want to win.

“It’s fun to play with Seager again. When you win a World Series with your teammates, it’s a bond that goes beyond baseball.”

Joc Pederson was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2011 MLB Draft and made his major league debut with the Dodgers in 2014. He made his first All-Star appearance the following year and won the World Series in 2020. He started 2021 in Chicago. However, the Cubs ended up winning the World Series against the Atlanta Braves.

The Texas Rangers won the World Series in 2023, but had a disappointing year in 2024, missing the playoffs. But Pederson wants to change that and win the West with the Rangers. The outfielder will also be reunited with former teammate Corey Seager, with whom he won his first Ward Series.

Rangers’ director of baseball operations shares his thoughts on new addition Joc Pederson.

Chris Young is a former MLB pitcher who has been the general manager of the Texas Rangers since 2020. He was given the additional title of president of baseball operations earlier this year and has had a busy offseason.

Young said of recently signed Joc Pederson:

“I’m certainly excited about what type of player he is, what he’s going to add to our lineup, how he’s going to improve our offense. As well, I’m excited about who he is as a person. I’m excited. This is a player who has won multiple World Series championships.”

Other big moves the Texans’ front office has already made include re-signing Nathan Eovaldi to a three-year contract, trading Robert Garcia and signing a relief pitcher in free agency. Despite last year’s disappointing season, it’s clear they mean business.

Bhargav Edit