Rangers veteran DH struggling to find his groove, what's the next steps?

It has been an abysmal start to the 2025 season for Texas Rangers DH Joc Pederson. Now fans are starting to wonder, did the organization make a smart play with the offseason acquisition.

Pederson, 32, has started the season with a .070 batting average and is currently on an 0-for-24 stretch, which is the second-worst of his 12-year career.

Texas made a bold move in departing with one of the fan favorites this offseason in Nathaniel Lowe and replaced his spot in the lineup with not just Pederson but Jake Burger as well. Lowe is off to a hard start with Washington this season and both Pederson and Burger are dreadful.

Did Texas make the wrong choice signing Joc Pederson, and if so, what's the next move?

I am obviously not suggesting that the Rangers cut ties with the left-handed slugger only 16 games into the regular season. He's been too impactful of a hitter throughout his career and last year he had one of the best offensive seasons of his career.

It's a confusing start for Pederson who was smoking the ball during spring training, hitting .256 with 5 home runs and 15 RBIs. In roughly the same sample size during the regular season he's still yet to hit his first homer of the year. Is it the change of scenery? Is he hurt? What's the deal and how does Texas solve it?

Option #1: Move Pederson to a different spot in the order

This move was tried during Sunday's series finale in Seattle with Marcus Semien getting an off day. Although it was not exactly what people were expecting to see Pederson in the leadoff spot. However, there was some familiarity for Pederson in the leadoff position.

But, it didn't work. Pederson still went hitless in his four at-bats that day, striking out twice.

I was thinking the best option would be to put him in the bottom portion of the lineup. He has spent majority of the season thus far in the top four spots of the order, if he was to move to the 7-9 spot it would put a lot of pressure off his shoulders to perform until he can find his swing again.

Option #2: Bench him to help get his mind right

The logical answer is to bench him.

Pederson is looking far from his usual self to start the year. Comparing his 2024 season to 2025, he's struggling to barrel up the ball and hit balls hard. When you watch him at the plate he looks lost, late on pitches or simply just watching the fly him by down the middle of the strike zone.

Benching a player does give the player time to get his head clear and let him focus on getting his mind right and maybe the swing will follow. The issue with benching him is that Texas has no real option to replace him. The whole team is struggling offensively and his replacement options are no better than him.

Option #3: Release him (not happening but it's technically an option)

Now this is a harsh solution to your problem, especially with the money you would owe him.

But if cut him from your roster and he goes elsewhere for cheap and starts producing, Texas looks like the dumb one in not giving him enough time to prove himself. Unsure what they would need to do for that.

Can he be sent down to the minors? Can you formulate some kind of IL stint? All those would be options before cutting him.

It's honestly not worth spending too much time thinking about this option because he'd need a full season of horrible play to justify Texas DFA'ing, especially when the organization has given other players performing worse over a longer period of time, much longer leashes.