Brewers: Joc Pederson would be an ideal fit for Milwaukee

The universal DH adds a roster spot for the Brewers to utilize. Although internal options exist, the Brewers should look to add another power bat to the lineup via free agency. The bat: Joc Pederson.

The Brewers saw first hand the heroics of Joc Pederson last Postseason, now is it time for Pederson to join the Crew?

Coming off of two down seasons of sub-100 wRC+, Pederson is a bounce back candidate, and someone who likely would benefit from the universal DH, as he struggles defensively (he finished the 2021 season in the 7th percentile for outs above average).

Although defensively limited, Pederson would bring a left handed power bat to the Brewers, which always profiles well in American Family Field, and always tickles David Stearns’ fancy. Despite his struggles, his xSLG has consistently remained in the .440s, for context, his xSLG of .441 last season placed him in the 58th percentile of all hitters, and would have placed second on the 2021 Brewers behind Avisail Garcia.

As is the case with most power hitters in modern baseball, with power comes strikeouts, and Pederson is not an exception. Last season a strikeout ended 24.3% of all plate appearances (placing him in the 29th percentile), and he placed in the 38th percentile for Whiff%, and in the 16th percentile for chase rate.

When he doesn’t strike out, Pederson hits the ball hard. His hard hit% of 47.6% places him in the 84th percentile, which would have placed him only behind Daniel Vogelbach and Christian Yelich on the Brewers last season. Pederson has the tools, and perhaps the Brewers new hitting coach tandem, he could elevate his game to the next level.

Pederson to the Brewers is not a foreign idea. Milwaukee was previously interested in Pederson in the 2021 offseason, although no deal came to fruition, as he went to the Cubs and then the Braves.

Perhaps adding Pederson will help the Brewers, unlike other DH options such as Nelson Cruz, Pederson would likely be less expensive. With lots of postseason experience, and still only 30, it may be time for the Crew’s calendar to go from Craigtember to Joctober.

Free agency is just getting kicked back up and there are a lot of players out on the market and not a lot of time to get signed before the season begins. Spring training already officially starts on Sunday and players are going to want to get signed quickly. Pederson is going to want to find his new team sooner rather than later.