Why Rangers' $37 million slugger could be traded if season falls apart

The Texas Rangers are currently 30-33, right in lock-step with the Athletics for the third and final Wild Card spot in the American League.

But, it would not be a massive surprise if the Rangers struggled from here on out and fell out of the playoff hunt by the MLB trade deadline.

If such a future came to pass, MLB insider Robert Murray of Fansided.com identified $37 million slugger Joc Pederson as a possible "under-the-radar" trade candidate this summer.

Rangers' Joc Pederson is under-the-radar trade candidate

"He's in the final year of a two-year, $37 million contract, so to facilitate a trade or even maximize a return, the Rangers may have to eat some of his contract," Murray writes. "But he's playoff tested, a former All-Star, and can contribute as a designated hitter or even in the outfield and at first base. If the Rangers sell, he's a candidate to go."

Pederson is 34 years old and playing in his 13th big league season. He has 226 career homers, and his $37 million deal is likely too much for a team to pay him based on his production.

Last season, he hit .181 with a 614 OPS across 96 games and 265 at-bats. This year, however, he's been significantly better. He has a .252 average and an .828 OPS.

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If the Rangers are sellers at this year's trade deadline, Pederson is very much a candidate to be traded. A club like the Pittsburgh Pirates, in dire need of help at first base, designated hitter, and the outfield, would make perfect sense for the Rangers slugger.

The Rangers might trade Pederson if things fall apart this season, as he's one of the more under-the-radar trade candidates across MLB this season.

Someone with as great an offensive production as Pederson this season would surely draw trade interest. He might be on a new team by August 3, as the Rangers could very easily slip out of contention in the next two months.

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