The Texas Rangers made several offseason moves hoping to push their way back to the World Series, but many of those decisions have backfired.
One of the biggest missteps, according to FanSided’s Zachary Rotman, was the two-year, $37 million contract for Joc Pederson.
At the time, Rotman praised the signing, believing Pederson’s success against right-handed pitching would boost an already talented lineup. Instead, the deal has turned into a disaster.
Through 72 games, Pederson is batting just .171/.283/.326 with seven home runs and 18 RBI, making him one of the offseason’s biggest busts.
He started the year 4-for-61 at the plate, and while his numbers have slightly improved with a .609 OPS—his season overall has been a major disappointment.
Joc Pederson
Looking back, the investment seems misguided.
Pederson is now primarily a platoon designated hitter, offering little value defensively, limited speed, and continued struggles against left-handed pitching.
The Rangers banked on his past power potential, but instead find themselves stuck with an aging slugger underperforming on a costly deal.
