MLB Rumors: Joc Pederson Declines D-Backs Contract Option, Will Become Free Agent

Coming off the best season of his career with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Joc Pederson is going to test free agency for the second straight year.

Per ESPN's Jesse Rogers, Pederson declined his mutual option for 2025.

Pederson originally signed a one-year deal with Arizona that included a mutual option worth $14 million for 2025. He is owed $3 million in a buyout as part of his option.

After reaching the World Series in 2023, the Diamondbacks were looking for more production out of the designated hitter spot in the lineup. They received the third-worst production from their DHs by FanGraphs' wins above replacement (minus-1.3) with a .218/.286/.390 slash line.

The addition of Pederson dramatically improved Arizona's offense. He hit .275/.393/.515 with 23 homers in 449 plate appearances. His 3.0 fWAR is the third-highest single-season total of his career after 2015 when he was an All-Star and 2016.

Even though Pederson has played first base and all three outfield spots in his career, he is best utilized as a bat-only player.

The 32-year-old Pederson is also at his best in a platoon because he can crush right-handed pitching with a .844 career OPS against them, a stark difference compared to his .630 mark against lefties. Those splits were better in 2024 (.923 to .749), but will probably be more of an outlier given his career-long totals.

Given how weak this free-agent class is in terms of power hitters after Juan Soto, who is in his own tier, Pederson should be able to secure a multiyear deal from a team this offseason.