As that kid in that very old meme says: is this real life? So slow. But it’s in my head.
This is how shocked I am this morning to see it reported that the Cubs are signing a legal free agent right now for a real contract that really costs dollars:
Free agent fielder Joc Pederson is in agreement with Cubs, hanging physically, sources say @TheAthletic.
– Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) 29 January 2021
Nothing about the Cubs’ off-season so far, from the non-offer to sale, to the avoidance of reasonably early signings to the failure to bring Jon Lester back, despite his desire to return with a cheap price, would could tell they were in the market for a deal like this. Not that it’s a HUGE signing, but it’s going to cost them real money.
Pederson (28) will remind many people of Kyle Schwarber if you just look at the creepy similar statlines so far in their careers:
And indeed, Pederson looks in many ways like he will be a replacement for Schwarber in the left field. Powerful left bat that you will sometimes have to platoon, and with a bit of unrealized offense upside down, from an in 2020? Similar.
However, there are important differences. First, Pederson can play all over the outside field, and in the left field he actually considers a very good defender. Schwarber simply made himself ‘passable’ for all his work out there. If Ian Happ has to be in the center field, where he’s still developing a bit, it’s going to be a lot better for the overall defense in the outfield if it’s a man like Pederson on the left rather than Schwarber.
Another important difference? Since 2017, Pederson has actually made himself into an almost contact-type hitter. Surprising, given his profile, but over the more than 1400 record appearances, he hit 3% less often as league average. Yes, this is a contact upgrade.
Pederson was also a bit more consistently productive, without ever having a monster season:
Another plus here? Pederson had a downward normal season in 2020, but blew up to the title during the Dodgers-after-season, hitting more than 37 PAs. a fairly normal season for himself. This is the similarity with these short season statistics.
The downside to this is that Pederson has become virtually useless to fellow leftists. For his career, he’s only hitting .191 / .266 / .310 against leftists (59 wRC +), and at this point, where you might have seen signs of hoping Schwarber could be a full-time guy, there’s not really that. signs (of which I know) with Pederson. He is a platoon man, through and through. Pair him with Phillip Ervin or Michael Hermosillo, and you might have a good production from the venue.
More to come soon.
UPDATE: If this is the full scope of the transaction, it’s cheap:
Joc Pederson agrees on a $ 7 million one-year deal with the Chicago Cubs, sources told ESPN. First with the agreement was @Ken_Rosenthal.
– Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) 29 January 2021
Keep in mind that Schwarber was expected to get more than that in arbitration when the Cubs decided not to tender him. After that, Schwarber received $ 10 million from the Nationals ($ 7 million salary, $ 3 million buyout on a mutual option). So the Cubs seem to have the best fit on the smaller deal. I like Schwarber up to all applicable levels, but it seems like a good exchange, all things considered.