Dodgers: Joc Pederson Talks Awkward Angels Trade Rumors, Moreno Confirms Deal Dead
Already, the Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has said that the whole Joc Pederson and Ross Stripling trade to the Angels was ‘awkward‘.
Apparently, ‘awkward’ is the correct verbiage for the situation surrounding the trade that never happened. Indeed, Pederson recently spoke with Bill Plunkett of the OC Register as well as Jorge Castillo of the LA Times about the situation.
Joc Pederson said it wasn't until 30 minutes before #Dodgers announced trade with Boston that he knew he wasn't being traded. "It was kind of up in the air the whole time … Until that happened I honestly thought I was going to be on the Angels."
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) February 15, 2020
First, Pederson believed he was a goner like the rest of us. For example, how many of you pictured Pederson wearing his customary shades in Angels red like I did? It seemed like it could work, hitting behind Mike Trout in the order.
Pederson tells Plunkett that he believed it to be a done deal.
“It was kind of up in the air the whole time. Until it happened, I thought I was going to be on the Angels.”
Next, Pederson says that he even received texts from members of the Dodgers organization.
Joc Pederson said he got texts from Dave Roberts, #Dodgers teammates, members of ownership saying goodbye when news of trade to Angels broke. "It's a little awkward coming back. … But I'm excited to be here, ready to win a World Series."
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) February 15, 2020
Perhaps that is when things became real, until it no longer was. Pederson admits it’s a bit of a precarious situation having a second lease on his Dodgers life. Still, he realizes the potential of the situation he gets to remain in.
“It’s a little awkward coming back. But I’m excited to be here, ready to win a World Series.”
This is not the first time Pederson has had to show the ability to adapt in his career. And to be a useful piece in a crowded outfield, he will need to show resilience once again.
With that being said, he doesn’t fault the Dodgers for anything according to Castillo.
Joc Pederson said "it's a little awkward being back" but he doesn't think the Dodgers did anything wrong. He said Andrew Friedman was upfront with him about the non-trade to the Angels last week.
"They're working to put the best roster together to win a World Series."
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) February 15, 2020
Pederson feels Friedman was up front with him and he knows the Dodgers are doing what it takes to win. Remember at Dodgers Fanfest, Pederson said it was a business at the outset of his comments. Without question, he gets this aspect of baseball.
“They’re working to put the best roster together to win a World Series.”
Pederson has been around long enough with this core that it shouldn’t affect his play. Still, it’s always weird to put yourself in the spot of a player who is traded, and then comes back to that organization suddenly.
Now, one of the rumors of the deal gone nixed was that Angels owner Arte Moreno was the driving factor behind pulling the plug on the trade. On Monday, he confirmed it at Halo camp.
Arte Moreno says “it’s true” that he pulled the plug on the Pederson/Stripling trade. “I’d rather not talk about it, but that’s not going to happen.” He says the Angels could still add another pitcher. pic.twitter.com/JJM9nz8U5p
— Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) February 17, 2020
Jeff Fletcher of the OC Register did say that Moreno added “it wasn’t all impatience, there were other things.”
For now we wait along with Pederson to see if there is a silver lining in the trade that almost went down with the Angels.
NEXT: Ross Stripling Talks About a Weird Week of Rumors
