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Did Dodgers ruin their chance to reunite with Joc Pederson this offseason?

By Thomas Carannante|
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 17: Joc Pederson #22 of the Atlanta Braves runs up the first base line after he a two run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fourth inning of Game Two of the National League Championship Series at Truist Park on October 17, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 17: Joc Pederson #22 of the Atlanta Braves runs up the first base line after he a two run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fourth inning of Game Two of the National League Championship Series at Truist Park on October 17, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Though nobody can make major league roster transactions, we’re here connecting the dots trying to figure out what’d be best for the Los Angeles Dodgers once the lockout ends.

Clayton Kershaw re-signing? Yes, please. Kenley Jansen reunion? We wouldn’t oppose it! Adding another starter? Has to happen. Bolstering the bullpen? Also essential. Everything else feels a bit secondary.

Carlos Correa/Trevor Story or Freddie Freeman are fun to think about, but the Dodgers don’t need that right now. In fact, they’d be better off improving the depth behind this current cast, which was a notable problem in 2021 when injuries began to take their toll.

Just imagine if they kept Kiké Hernandez and Joc Pederson. They truly might’ve won the World Series based on how those two performed in the postseason with their new teams. The good news, however, is that the Dodgers have a chance to get one of them back this offseason … but did they ruin their chance to do so?

The Dodgers should try and reunite with Joc Pederson … but it might be hard.

After an unforgettable postseason run in 2020 that was indeed fueled in part by Pederson (and Hernandez), the Dodgers straight up told the sluggers to explore other options in free agency while they splurged $103 million on 4.00 ERA pitcher and internet troll Trevor Bauer.

Think they could’ve used some elite backup assistance from those guys, especially Pederson, who was very much a playoff legend (and still is, he just won the World Series with the Braves and played a pivotal role)?

Hernandez is still under contract with the Red Sox, but Pederson’s a free agent after signing only a one-year deal with the Cubs and not finding a home before the lockout. Fans would love a reunion here … but did they already burn the bridge with Pederson? The way he talked about them during and after the NLCS wasn’t so kind.

He’d certainly fit right back in, too, with how frequently AJ Pollock is injured, the concerns with Max Muncy’s elbow and how he’ll fare with the rehabbed UCL in 2022, and the expected arrival of the universal DH. Remember, even with full outfields during Pederson’s time with the Dodgers, manager Dave Roberts still managed to get him a ton of playing time. He saw 137 or more games in four out of the five years from 2015-2019, with his 102 in 2017 as a result of injuries.

Additionally, if the Dodgers want to use Chris Taylor mostly at second base and trade Gavin Lux for pitching, it’ll be even easier to fit Pederson into the picture (and he’s probably a better outfielder than Lux — a natural shortstop — anyway).

It all works on paper. We’re just not sure if a bridge was burned or not based on his exit after a championship season that saw the Dodgers use their money in a careless and ineffective manner.

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