This morning, the Chicago Cubs signed a $ 7 million contract with Joc Pederson for a year. This angered some White Sox fans because the South Siders made an identical deal with Adam Eaton in early December.
White Sox fans are used to managing handcuffed spending in the off-season, and many thought Pederson would be a viable option to fill the gap in the right field.
This is where the story gets even more interesting. This afternoon, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reported that Pederson received a $ 10 million one-year contract offer from White Sox in December, but he declined. According to a person familiar with the situation, Pederson asked for more money and was denied. The White Sox then shifted its focus to Eaton.
According to James Fegan of The Athletic, the White Sox believe that Eaton brings better defense and a more versatile skill set that will better complement their lineup. And in December, Pederson was not available for the price he ended up signing with the Cubs. Adding Eaton’s willingness to agree to a club option, this sealed the deal for the South Siders.
Pederson would have been a good fit for the White Sox in the right field. Last season, he hit 0.143 BA and 0.681 OPS, but warmed up in the postseason and posted 0.382 BA with three home runs and 0.991 OPS in 37 matches. He is also just a year away from a season of 36 home runs.
Pederson’s deal with the Cubs is a one-year pact, so there is still the possibility of the former Dodger wearing a White Sox uniform in the future.