Former Dodgers' exodus to Texas continues with latest Rangers signing

After Walker Buehler's departure for the Red Sox in free agency, very little of the Dodgers' World Series-winning 2020 core remains on the roster going on five seasons later.

Will Smith, Max Muncy, and Mookie Betts are the only everyday position players (Gavin Lux, Chris Taylor, and Austin Barnes were also technically there in 2020), and Clayton Kershaw and Tony Gonsolin are the only starters.

Most of the other big stars from that shortened season have moved on. Kiké Hernández remains in free agent limbo after a return season to LA, but Corey Seager is locked up with the Rangers, Cody Bellinger was traded to the Yankees, Justin Turner may be on the verge of retirement, and Joc Pederson has been a member of four different clubs after the Dodgers let him go in free agency following their 2020 championship.

On Monday, in the very early hours of the morning, Ken Rosenthal reported that Pederson would make his first venture outside of the National League after 11 years in the game, and would be joining Seager as a Texas Ranger. Contract details are yet to be announced, but should be expected if/when Pederson passes his physical.

Former Dodgers star Joc Pederson joins Corey Seager as a Ranger on a new deal in free agency

Pederson has been a Cub, Brave, Giant, and Diamondback since he left the Dodgers, and he got a second ring in 2021 after he was traded to the Braves. During the NLCS that year, his two-run homer off of then-Dodger Max Scherzer in Game 2 contributed to Atlanta's win, which put them up 2-0 in the series before they went on to win the World Series.

In 2024, Pederson had his best offensive year since 2016, with a .275 average and .908 OPS over 132 games as the Diamondbacks' DH, he hit better against the Dodgers than he did against any other team (.300/.914), and demolished righty pitcher overall (.281/.923). He opted out of his deal with the Diamondbacks at the end of the year.

He's still just 32, so he probably has a few more years of solid major league playing time lined up if that kind of performance continues in 2025.

The Rangers are putting together a decent offseason after an underwhelming season to follow their World Series win in 2023. They've also signed Kyle Higashioka, re-signed Nathan Eovaldi, and traded for Jake Burger. Texas is nothing for the Dodgers to worry about unless they manage to make another deep postseason run, but it's still hard for fans to watch two 2020 champions reunite in a different blue.