Joc Pederson

[SRB]

The Dodgers are apparently making Pederson available in trades and have already spoken to the White Sox. He's an owed an estimated $8.5 million in the last year of team control.

 

Really not sure what Pederson would cost since he is very good but also a clear platoon bat. Pederson crushes RHP and is an excellent defender in LF. He is also really bad against LHP. Meanwhile, Ryan Braun hits LHP quite well and is a declining defender in the outfield.

 

What about moving Braun to a 1B/OF role, trading for Pederson, and signing CJ Cron for a couple million dollars to be the weak side of a platoon. (Alternatively, Pederson played about 20 games for the Dodgers at 1B last season, but the defensive metrics were very bad, albeit in a meaningless sample size.)

 

Over the last two seasons, Pederson has a .376 wOBA (138 wRC+) vs RHP, and Cron has a .400 wOBA (156 wRC+) vs LHP. Pederson has a career +10.5 UZR/150 in LF (elite defense) and Cron has an average -0.7 UZR/150 at 1B.

 

vs. RHP

 

C - Manny Pina

1B - Ryan Braun

2B - Keston Hiura

SS - Luis Urias/Orlando Arcia

3B - ???

LF - Joc Pederson

CF - Lorenzo Cain

RF - Christian Yelich

 

vs. LHP

 

C - Manny Pina

1B - C.J. Cron

2B - Keston Hiura

SS - Luis Urias

3B - ???

LF - Ryan Braun

CF - Lorenzo Cain

RF - Christian Yelich

[SRB]

Even aside from Pederson's righty mashing ways, it would also be cool to have a potential lockdown defensive alignment for late in games:

 

C - Manny Pina (plus defender)

1B - C.J. Cron (-0.7 UZR/150 in career)

2B - Luis Urias (+8.0 UZR/150 in career)

SS - Orlando Arcia (-2.7 UZR/150 in career; ok actually not that great, what the heck Orlando)

3B - ???

LF - Joc Pederson (+10.5 UZR/150 in career)

CF - Lorenzo Cain (+10.0 UZR/150 in career)

RF - Christian Yelich (+3.6 UZR/150 in career)

[markedman5]

Doesn't seem like trading from a weak farm system for a guy with 1 year of control is something Stearns would be real interested in.

[long ball]

Yes I'd be interested. With the 26th roster spot and the Brewers trimming a lot of the major league roster depth it gives them the opportunity to pursue players at just about any position right now and they can afford to target platoon types given that roster flexibility.