Joc Pederson proving Brian Cashman needs to sign him in free agency

The Yankees should target Joc Pederson to add lefty pop to their lineup.

Could a mini re-tool this offseason see general Brian Cashman make a little run at soon-to-be free agent Joc Pederson? The Los Angeles Dodgers slugger has delivered on the big stage in the NLCS and World Series this year and has been a member of the NL powerhouse since 2014.

You might be thinking, “Why do we need another power hitter who can’t hit for average?” And you’d be completely right to ask that. But Pederson is a lefty and New York badly needs that in their lineup. This would take some roster tinkering (Pederson is an outfielder and we already have plenty of those), but it could be worth it.

The short porch in right field, though it complements many left-handed hitters, just feels like it’ll be an unmatchable advantage for the veteran.

And what about his postseason prowess? It’s considerable. For his career, he’s slashing .272/.345/.503 with 25 runs scored, nine home runs and 20 RBI in 63 games, largely as a part-time player. Remember, he’s a platoon guy for the Dodgers and manages to produce despite limited plate appearances. That’s exactly what the Yankees need.

In 2020, though the circumstances helped just about nobody, the Yankees’ part-time guys fell off the face of the earth. Mike Tauchman, Mike Ford, Tyler Wade and Thairo Estrada couldn’t have done less with their playing time, if we’re being honest with ourselves.

And at this point, if the Yankees want that fourth outfielder, Pederson is a younger, better and more powerful version of Brett Gardner, who has a $10 million team option for 2021. Pederson will likely be in that price range, and if that’s the case, it’s an upgrade Cashman needs to make.

There’s also a good rebuttal to Pederson’s career .230 batting average — he’s shown a marked improvement in cutting down his strikeouts. Across his first two full seasons he whiffed 300 times in 289 games. Since then? He’s struck out 298 times in 442 games. He has a 74% contact percentage for his career and has seen nearly five pitches per at-bat for his career. That’s evidence of him working the count and acting on the pitch he wants to hit.

That’s some good evidence to provide the Yankees with a cost-effective free agent who can be a big upgrade on the left side of the plate. We’re just sayin’.

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