Dodgers: Pros and cons of trading Joc Pederson (again)

So trade him or keep him?

Should the Dodgers try to trade Joc Pederson again?

As you can see from the preceeding slides, there are several factors to consider in putting the 28-year-old back on the trade market, where it seems like he has lived over his entire tenure with the Dodgers.

There is no question that he has talent. He is a unique power hitter against right-handed pitching, but his platoon splits are so severe, he is incapable of playing an everyday role. Pederson only saw 50 plate appearances against lefties last season, slugging an anemic .265 in those situations.

Pederson is set to become a free agent next offseason, whether the 2020 season is played or not, so if the Dodgers can find a trade partner, whenever rosters are unfrozen, they can at least try to recoup some assets in return for a player they could very soon lose for nothing.

That said, the Dodgers are in a position to compete for a championship this season. So the added value of keeping Pederson’s powerful bat in the lineup against righties might outweigh the return he could potentially fetch.

By moving Alex Verdugo in the Mookie Betts trade, the logjam in the outfield is less severe than it could have been had the Dodgers ended up with both Verdugo and Betts following the trade. A productive platoon opportunity now exists for Pederson and Pollock in left field. I would keep him in Los Angeles, if I was Andrew Friedman.