Giants surprisingly extend $19M qualifying offer to Pederson originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
LAS VEGAS — The easiest decision for the Giants to make this offseason was putting the qualifying offer on Carlos Rodón. But, Rodón surprisingly wasn’t the only Giant to get the QO before Thursday’s deadline.
Joc Pederson joined Rodón, which could lead to a second season in San Francisco for the Bay Area native. Players who accept the qualifying offer are guaranteed a 2023 salary of $19.65 million, which would be more than three times what Pederson made last season after he signed a one-year, $6 million deal in March.
Pederson was expected to get multi-year offers this time around, but he would be very unlikely to find a deal paying him that much — or anything close — on a year-by-year basis. Players saddled with an offer also generally find depressed markets because some teams are hesitant to give up draft picks by signing such a player.
If Pederson accepts, the Giants would be bringing back one of their clubhouse leaders and their top home run hitter. Pederson had a .874 OPS in 134 appearances, hitting 23 homers while making his second All-Star team. A reunion could have a ripple effect on other players.
Pederson rated as one of the worst defensive left fielders in baseball and may be best-suited to be a DH against right-handed pitching, although the Giants are hopeful that he can be better in the outfield with improved conditioning. It seems unlikely that the Giants could reasonably carry both Pederson and Tommy La Stella, who is owed $11.5 million in 2023.
If Pederson were to leave, the Giants would get draft pick compensation. That is much more likely with Rodón, who is expected to sign a nine-figure deal this offseason.
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Assuming Rodón does sign elsewhere, the Giants will get a draft pick that likely will fall somewhere in the seventies in next July’s draft. They also seem poised to lose a draft pick, as most of this year’s star free agents — including Aaron Judge and Trea Turner — were given qualifying offers.
That’s a small price to pay to get back to contention, and that would please Pederson, who late in the year had strong comments about the disappointing .500 season. The Giants hoped to bring him back to a much-improved roster, and with Thursday’s decision, it’s much more likely that Pederson returns.