The Texas Rangers have been on the move over the past few hours.
They signed free agent and designated hitter Joc Pederson and traded first baseman Nate Lowe to the Washington Nationals. In return for Lowe, they got their hands on left-handed reliever Robert Garcia.
Aged 32, Pederson signed a two-year deal valued at $37 million with Texas.
Pederson hit .275 with 23 home runs and 64 RBIs in 2024, his first and only season with the Arizona Diamondbacks after signing a one-year, $9.5 million contract with the team. He refused an option year on his contract which would have allowed him to earn $14 million in 2025 in order to become a free agent.
The left-handed power hitter hit 209 career home runs, playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants and Diamondbacks. He was named to the All-Star Game with the Dodgers in 2015 and the Giants in 2022. He won the World Series with Los Angeles in 2020 and Atlanta in 2021.
For his part, Lowe maintained a batting average of .265 with 16 home runs and 69 RBIs with the Rangers. He ranked sixth in the American League with 71 walks. He hit .302 in 2022, then won the Gold Glove in the 2023 season, helping the Rangers win the World Series.
The Rangers were looking to move on from Lowe after acquiring Jake Burger from the Miami Marlins a few weeks ago.
Another season in Pittsburgh for Andrew Mccutchen
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced the return of veteran outfielder Andrew McCutchen on Monday.
He signed a one-year contract worth $5 million.
McCutchen hit .232 with 20 homers, 18 doubles and 50 RBIs in 120 games with the Pirates last season.
The 38-year-old is fourth in Pirates history with 235 home runs and just five behind Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente for third place.
McCutchen has a career average of .273 with 319 home runs, 1,239 runs scored, 1,095 RBIs and 219 stolen bases in 16 MLB seasons with the Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants and the New York Yankees.
