The Chicago Cubs are going to be in fire-sale mode leading up to the MLB trade deadline. Apparently, former All-Star outfielder Joc Pederson is the first to go.
The Atlanta Braves announced on Thursday evening that they have acquired Pederson from Chicago for first base prospect Bryce Ball.
For the four-time defending NL East champions, the acquisition of Joc Pederson comes after they lost star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. for the season with a torn ACL.
Pederson, 29, was a fixture in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup from 2015-19, recording a combined 130 homers to go with 303 RBI while boasting a .230 average.
Thus far this season, the 2015 National League All-Star is hitting .230 with 11 homers and 39 RBI for Chicago. While he won’t replace the production Atlanta has seen from Acuna Jr., it’s a big move for the team. These Braves come out of the All-Star Break with a pedestrian 44-45 record and in third place in theN National League East.
For the Cubs, trading Joc Pederson is just the first of many moves we’re expecting to see ahead of the trade deadline. Chicago sits at 44-46 and eight games out of first place in the National League Central.
In return for Pederson, Chicago nabs a 23-year-old first base prospect in Ball who ranks 12th in the Braves’ system, according to MLB.com.