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Report: White Sox discussing Pederson trade with Dodgers

Alex Trautwig / Major League Baseball / Getty

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox are discussing a trade that would send Joc Pederson to the South Side, sources told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

It's not known how far talks between the Dodgers and White Sox have advanced, Rosenthal reports.

The Dodgers cleared out a large part of their glut of outfielders by shipping Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp to the Cincinnati Reds in last month's blockbuster trade. Though that deal opened a spot for Pederson to play every day in 2019, the Dodgers are now said to be discussing a contract with free agent A.J. Pollock, who could render Pederson expendable if he was to sign in L.A.

The White Sox have already added one outfielder this winter in free agent Jon Jay. But Pederson's power from the left side would slot nicely into the middle of Chicago's order alongside Jose Abreu, Yonder Alonso, and potentially even Manny Machado, a free agent the White Sox continue to covet.

The 26-year-old Pederson was used primarily as the left-handed half of a platoon last year but still hit .248/.321/.522 (125 OPS+) with 25 homers, 55 extra-base hits, and 56 RBIs over 443 plate appearances for the NL champion Dodgers. He also displayed plus defense as a left fielder, saving four runs while tallying a 3.0 ultimate zone rating in 667 2/3 innings at the position.

Pederson avoided arbitration by signing a one-year, $5-million deal with the Dodgers earlier this month. He's scheduled to become a free agent after the 2020 season.

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