Diamondbacks' Joc Pederson speaks to the media as he cleans out his locker at Chase Field the day after the team was eliminated from playoff contention in Phoenix on Oct. 1, 2024.

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Joc Pederson Says Houston Astros’ ‘Reign’ Will Come to an End

Just a week into his tenure with the Texas Rangers, Joc Pederson is already making waves in the American League West (AL West) rivalry.

Diamondbacks' Joc Pederson speaks to the media as he cleans out his locker at Chase Field the day after the team was eliminated from playoff contention in Phoenix on Oct. 1, 2024.

During his first press conference with the team on Monday, Joc Pederson took a jab at the Houston Astros, declaring that the “reign of the rivals in the West” will soon be over.

The Astros have made the playoffs eight consecutive times, securing two World Series titles and four American League pennants during that stretch.

“I’ve faced the Astros a few times in the World Series. They’ve had a good run, but it will come to an end. It’s time for us (the Rangers) to dominate the West,” Pederson stated confidently.

Pederson signed with the Rangers on December 23 after entering free agency following a season with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Rangers added another seasoned winner to their roster, as the 32-year-old has two World Series championships under his belt: one with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020 and another with the Atlanta Braves in 2021.

Notably, he was also part of the Dodgers team that controversially lost to the Astros in the 2017 World Series. Pederson’s deal with the Rangers spans two years and is worth $37 million.

The Rangers recently celebrated their first-ever World Series title in 2023, defeating the Diamondbacks in seven games. However, their journey was far from smooth, even during the regular season.

The team lost the AL West lead to the Astros in the final game of the season. In 2024, the Rangers missed the playoffs entirely while the Astros claimed their fourth consecutive division title and seventh in eight seasons.

The Rangers haven’t won the AL West since 2016, but Pederson believes it’s time to rewrite that narrative. “There are a lot of things moving in the right direction for the Rangers to be on top of this division,” he said.

“I told Chris Young that all we need to do is make the playoffs. You let (manager Bruce) Bochy do what Bochy does in the playoffs, and it usually works out. Then you add (Corey) Seager to the mix, and next thing you know, we’re all walking around with more rings (World Series titles),” Pederson concluded.

Joc Pederson

The Playoffs News Team