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Reigning pennant winners address needs by adding former All-Stars

Joc Pederson. Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Reigning pennant winners address crucial needs with additions of former All-Stars

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 1/26/24

Both the Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers made surprise runs to the Fall Classic in 2023.

The D-backs and Rangers aren't slowing down this offseason, however, as they both addressed key needs with the additions of former All-Stars on Thursday.

Right-handed reliever David Robertson and the Texas Rangers are in agreement on a one-year contract in the $11-12 million range, pending physical, sources tell ESPN. The World Series champs bulk up their bullpen with the veteran closer who has 175 career saves.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 26, 2024

When David Robertson officially joins the defending World Series champions, they'll be his eighth different team in the last seven years. Though the one-time All-Star will turn 39 in early April, he can still bring a lot to his new club.

Robertson has 42 games of playoff experience with four squads over the years, including 6.1 innings pitched over six World Series contests. Robertson earned a championship ring with the New York Yankees in 2009 and has a 6-0 record with a 3.04 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 57 strikeouts over 47.1 career postseason innings.

Texas ranked 24th in bullpen ERA in 2023, according to an ESPN report, and they lost Aroldis Chapman and closer Will Smith to the Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals this winter, respectively. The team did add former All-Star closer Kirby Yates to a one-year deal in early December.

Arizona continued its busy winter on Thursday night, agreeing to a contract with two-time All-Star outfielder Joc Pederson.

The @Dbacks deal with Joc Pederson is for 1 year with a mutual option for 2025.
— Steve Gilbert (@SteveGilbertMLB) January 26, 2024

Can confirm what @SteveGilbertMLB said: The D-backs have agreed to one-year deal with a mutual option with Joc Pederson.

The defending NL champs have added a LH power bat to go with the additions of Eduardo Rodriguez and Eugenio Suarez, plus the return of Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) January 26, 2024

The mutual option is worth $14 million with a $3 million buyout in 2025, per @nickpiecoro, so Pederson will be paid $9.5 million in 2024 with a total guarantee of $12.5 million. https://t.co/QP2q5qovml
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 26, 2024

Like Robertson, Pederson has jumped around the league in recent years, as the Diamondbacks will be his fifth team since 2020. Pederson will turn 32 in April and was an All-Star as recently as 2022 with the San Francisco Giants.

The former 11th-round pick brings plenty of postseason experience and success to the desert, registering 12 home runs, 29 RBI and a .256/.332.482 slash line over 195 at-bats covering 79 playoff games. Pederson won championships in back-to-back seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2020) and Atlanta Braves (2021).

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