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The Atlanta Braves should bring back Joc Pederson.

The Atlanta Braves should bring back Joc Pederson.

Former Atlanta Braves outfielder Joc Pederson has reportedly opted out of his joint contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, making him a free agent.

The Braves returned several members of their 2021 World Series-winning team for the 2024 season, and the results were mixed at best. However, if there is one guy they could bring back that would be a hit, it would be Pederson.

There’s a reason Pederson turned down the deal. He’s having the best season of his career and now is the time for him to test the open market. At 32, this may be his only chance to earn a sizable salary.

So yes, the Braves will pay for his services during peak hours, those numbers are worth it. In 132 games this season, Pederson is hitting .275/.395/.515. He set career highs in batting average, on-base percentage, OPS (.908), OPS+ (151) and posted the second-best WAR (2.9).

Even with the return of Ronald Acuña Jr., another outfield bat wouldn’t hurt. Jorge Soler was traded because his glove was a liability, and Jared Kelenic has decent defense but not a very good bat.

Pederson could provide a consistent, stable lineup.

While Pederson certainly has the bat, his glove may be questionable. The first few years he was in the league, he had a really solid glove. But as his career progressed, the quality only worsened.

In 2024, the Diamondbacks used him exclusively as a designated hitter. He has no defensive stats from last season. Admittedly, this is a worrying sign, especially after Soler’s departure.

But here’s the argument for rolling the dice. Pederson committed eight career errors in left field in 2,760 2/3 innings pitched. Meanwhile, Kelenic, who played 75 games in left field for the Braves, committed six career errors in left field in 1,359 1/3 innings.

The Braves could find a guy who only has two errors in a double inning. This would also be an improvement over other options from last season such as Adam Duvall and Eddie Rosario.

So, his glove isn’t the best, but in some ways it’s still an improvement and the Braves are getting a much better bat.