The Texas Rangers signed Joc Pederson primarily for his power at the plate, but his arrival in Texas is also reigniting a fierce AL West rivalry. Pederson inked a two-year, $37 million deal with the Rangers, and one of his key goals is to show the Houston Astros who truly dominates the division, as reported by Kennedi Landry of MLB.com.
“We’ve played the Astros in the World Series,” Pederson remarked. “They’ve had a nice little run, but it’s coming to an end. It’s time for us to take over the West.”
Pederson was part of the 2021 Atlanta Braves team that triumphed over the Astros in the World Series, and even as a member of the San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks, he recognized Houston’s dominance. Now with the Rangers, Pederson is ready to contribute to their rise and challenge the Astros for supremacy.
However, turning his words into action won’t be easy. The Astros have won the AL West every year since 2021, with their streak dating back to 2017, excluding the 2020 season when the Oakland Athletics claimed the division. Houston has claimed seven AL West titles in the past eight years, while the Rangers last won the division in 2016.
With Pederson now in the fold, Texas has added a powerful bat to their lineup. In 2024, the left-handed hitter posted a .275 average, 23 home runs, and 64 RBIs in 132 games with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Rangers are expected to use Pederson mainly against right-handed pitchers, against whom he hit .281 with 22 home runs and 60 RBIs last season.
A former All-Star in 2022, Pederson has accumulated 1,272 games in the major leagues, with a career batting average of .241, 209 home runs, and 549 RBIs. While his bold statements might raise eyebrows, Pederson certainly has the bat to back up his confidence.
Although the Rangers recently secured a World Series title, the Astros have reigned supreme in the AL West. Pederson believes that dominance is about to come to a halt in 2025.
