(AUDACY) The struggling Cubs have begun their process of selling.
The Cubs have traded outfielder Joc Pederson to the Braves for minor league first baseman Bryce Ball, the teams announced Thursday evening. The move comes as the Cubs have spiraled downward, losing 13 of their final 15 games entering the All-Star break to fall eight games behind the NL Central-leading Brewers.
The power-hitting Pederson is a worthy flyer for the Braves, who are looking to fill the void left by All-Star outfielder Ronald Acuna, who's out for the year with a torn ACL. A one-time All-Star with the Dodgers and a former World Series champion, Pederson adds another potent bat to a right-handed-heavy Braves lineup. There’s a lot of swing and miss to Pederson’s game (lifetime .230 average with a 24.3% strikeout rate), but when he's running hot, he’s a force to be reckoned with. Pederson, 29, is hitting .230 with 11 homers, 39 RBIs and a .718 OPS in 73 games this season.
Pederson was working on a one-year contract in 2021 that included a $10-million mutual option and $2.5-million buyout for 2022.
Meanwhile, the Cubs will see if they can nudge the 23-year-old Ball in the right direction. A 6-foot-6 first baseman, Ball is slashing just .207/.354/.396 with six homers in 53 games for high-A Rome this season. Prior to being traded, Ball was Atlanta’s 12th-ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. Atlanta selected him in the 24th round of the 2019 amateur draft.
With Pederson gone, Kris Bryant — who could be traded himself in the coming days — will likely continue to play a lot of outfield while Patrick Wisdom remains in line to handle the bulk of Chicago’s third-base responsibilities. And Pederson is just the first domino to fall for the reeling Cubs, who figure to continue to be busy before the trade deadline on July 30.
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