3 former SF Giants players who are off to brutal starts with their new team

The SF Giants are off to a hot start with a 24-14 record. How are some of their recent former players doing? Joc Pederson, Luke Jackson, and Michael Conforto are all off to brutal starts with their new clubs.

3 former SF Giants players who are off to brutal starts with their new team

1. DH Joc Pederson

Joc Pederson spent two seasons with the Giants. This includes an NL All-Star campaign in 2022. He returned to the club in 2023, but the numbers were not as strong and there were questions about his level of focus.

That said, the Giants had expressed some level of interest in a reunion over the past two seasons. The left-handed bat put together an excellent 2024 season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, posting a .908 OPS with 23 home runs 64 RBI in 449 plate appearances.

The Texas Rangers rewarded Pederson with a two-year, $37 million pact. This includes a mutual option for 2027.

The early returns have been disappointing. The left-handed bat is slashing .132/.240/.209 (34 wRC+) with zero home runs, two RBI, and four runs in 105 plate appearances. The Rangers already let go of offensive coordinator Donnie Ecker, and Pederson's struggles at the plate did not help.

2. Reliever Luke Jackson

During his two seasons with the club, Luke Jackson had few memorable moments in a Giants uniform. He tallied a 4.21 ERA before being shipped to the Atlanta Braves along with Jorge Soler right before last year's trade deadline.

The Giants hoped that he would become a leverage arm for the club when they signed him to a two-year deal. That never came to fruition, and he was often used in non-leverage spots by the end of his time. It was not a prohibitive cost, as Jackson received $11.5 million in guaranteed money from that deal, but it highlights that spending on free-agent relievers is difficult.

The Rangers signed Jackson to a one-year deal and he even emerged as the team's closer. That has proven to be a disastrous decision, as he has pitched to a 6.00 ERA in 15 outings. Oddly enough, he has only blown one save in nine opportunities, but he has three losses to his record as well. The Rangers have better relievers in their bullpen, but going with Jackson as the closer is a questionable decision by Bruce Bochy.

3. Outfielder Michael Conforto

Michael Conforto's time with the Giants was not necessarily bad, but there were few highlights. They were hoping that the veteran bat could bolster the lineup, but Conforto was more good than great, and it highlighted that his best days were likely behind him.

Overall, he posted a .740 OPS during his two seasons with San Francisco. This did include a 20-homer year with the Giants last season.

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed him to a one-year, $17 million deal. They hoped that a move away from Oracle Park would pay dividends for the 10-year veteran.

The results have been disastrous. And, if you ever peruse Dodgers social media posts about Conforto, they are not too kind either. He has registered a .503 OPS with two home runs and six RBI in 133 plate appearances.

The Dodgers made a considerable investment in Conforto. At the end of the day, it is only a one-year deal. That money is a sunk cost, and they will look for an upgrade if Conforto's numbers do not turn around.