Former SF Giants slugger gets big pay day after abysmal 2025 campaign

Former SF Giants slugger Joc Pederson had a rough 2025 campaign with the Texas Rangers, but he is still going to get a big pay day in 2026 after he exercised his player option which will earn him $18.5 million next season.

The decision for Pederson to exercise his option was an easy one because there is no way he would have earned a contract anywhere near $18.5 million from any team after the numbers he put up in 2025.

Former SF Giants slugger Joc Pederson looking to rebound after rough 2025

In 96 games and 265 at-bats with Texas in 2025, Pederson slashed a dismal .181/.285/.328 with 9 home runs and 26 runs batted in. He got off to a rough start and things simply did not improve as the season went on. That is a far cry from the slash line of .275/.393/.515 with 23 homers and 64 runs batted in he put up with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2024.

That solid 2024 campaign earned him a two-year deal worth $37 million with a player option after the first season from the Rangers. Texas has to be regretting giving him that contract as they are now on the hook for $18.5 million in 2026 for a player who very well could be in decline.

Pederson was an All-Star with the Giants back in 2022 but followed that up with a let-down season in 2023. He then had his solid 2024 with Arizona and had his brutal 2025 with Texas so maybe he is only good every other year. The Rangers have to be hoping that is the case so their contract does not look completely terrible.

There was even some thought that the Giants could reunite with Pederson last offseason. At the time, the Giants looked like they could use a big left-handed bat at the designated hitter spot in their lineup. Obviously, that would not have been a good investment and the Giants eventually filled that hole by swinging a blockbuster trade for Rafael Devers.

This offseason, the only potential upgrades for the Giants in their lineup will probably be at second base or right field. They may try to add a first baseman or DH type depending on how they feel about top prospect Bryce Eldridge, but all of those needs will likely take a back seat to the need for more pitching.

At least the Giants can feel good about the fact that they did not bring Pederson back only to see him lay an egg.