However you prepare it, former Atlanta Braves fan favorite Joc Pederson wants you to have your popcorn ready for the free agent chaos after the MLB lockout is over.
Joc Pederson wasn’t with the Atlanta Braves for long and there’s a pretty good chance he won’t suit up for them ever again. As one of several players the Braves brought in midseason to help them turn things around before eventually winning it all, Pederson will forever have a spot in the fans’ hearts.
Pederson is one of several Braves free agents who didn’t get a deal signed prior to the lockout. Eddie Rosario and Jorge Soler, the NLCS and World Series MVPs respectively, are also among the MLB nomads for when the lockout does end.
And as Pederson hinted, you might want to make sure the popcorn button on your microwave is working.
Former Braves fan favorite Joc Pederson is ready for a post-lockout free agent frenzy
The free agent class lost a lot of members back in November. Max Scherzer, Corey Seager, and many others found new homes. November isn’t typically a month when we see the biggest free agents land new deals. However, because of the impending transaction freeze, teams were a little more willing to reach for help in the early part of the offseason.
Pederson was not one of the guys to sign a deal in a rather interesting class of free agent outfielders. It’s debatable but Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber are probably the best of the group even though both are better suited as DHs. Pederson falls into a different category. A regular around the league since 2015, he’s one of those remaining free agent outfielders who could be viewed as a missing piece or a core member of a team simply looking to fill a roster spot.
The free agency of this member of the 2021 Braves won’t grab headlines. More so, it could get lost in the shuffle when the lockout ends and there are days when more players than ever before sign new deals.
Pederson will be among those veterans to ink new contracts. There’s going to be a historic rush to snag the best players possible.
You’ve been warned. Stock up on your popcorn and chocolate companions to drop in the bag—a personal recommendation on the best way to eat it. The MLB may still be locked out but there will be excitement at some point. Allow your virtue of patience to be tested a little more.