Joc Pederson declined his option for next year. He is now a free agent. He is also now no longer a Ranger.

His two years here were Jekyll and Hyde. In 2025, he was bad, hitting a disappointing .181 with a weak .614 OPS, the worst of his 13-year career after a career-best .908 in 2024 with Arizona. He hit just nine home runs and drove in only 26.

In 2026, he turned it around, with 26 home runs, most of them coming out of the leadoff spot, and an OPS of .816. But he turned out to be a home-run-or-bust guy, which really does nobody any good.

So, the Ranger say goodbye to their DH and his $18.5-million contract as they get look to get more athletic and more economical. Maybe they already have their next DH in house in Justin Foscue. Maybe they can use the Joc Pederson money to sign Luis Arraez to play second, and in one move dramatically improve their offense with one of the top hitters in baseball and a more well-rounded DH.