Matt Loede
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The Chicago Cubs are adding some power to their outfield, as the team has reportedly come to a deal with free agent left fielder Joc Pederson of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Pederson brings just a .230 lifetime batting average to the Cubs after seven seasons in Los Angeles. However, two seasons ago, he hit 36 homers and drove in 74 runs.
In 43 games last season, he hit just .190 with seven homers and 16 RBI, but the Cubs are counting on him returning to be the player he was two years prior, the player who hit a combined 61 homers and drove in 130 runs.
Pederson has also come up big in the postseason. In the 2017 World Series against the Houston Astros, he hit three homers.
Part of Pederson’s downfall, though, is the fact he’s a career .191 hitter against left-handed pitching.
Pederson will likely be the Opening Day left fielder for the Cubs, taking the place of Kyle Schwarber, who departed Chicago this offseason to ink a free agent deal with the Washington Nationals.
Outfield has been a position of need for the Cubs this entire offseason. Up until they signed Pederson, the team was carrying just three outfielders on their roster: Jason Heyward, Ian Happ and Phillip Ervin.
Joc will do well in Chicago. His plate awareness and pop make him a 35-40HR 100+ RBI if he’s an everyday player. .240 average this year, and a clutch postseason player if Chicago makes it to October.
Thanks for everything Joc. You will be missed.
#ThinkBlue
He will be traded by the deadline like every good player on the team since ownership is overreacting to a poor 2020 and crying poor. They will be like the before Theo Cubs and be trash.
I don’t get the signing. He’s a .230 hitter with inconsistent pop. They just got rid of another .230 career hitter with a little more pop who’s a year younger. Kyle Schwarber. Pederson is a better fielder, but that’s not the Cubs’ biggest problem. They need starting pitching and hitters who get on base. I don’t get it.