Rangers' Pederson: Astros' AL West reign 'coming to an end'

It didn't take long for Joc Pederson to throw himself into a long-heated rivalry between the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros.

"I've played the Astros a couple of times in the World Series. They've put together a nice little run, and it's coming to an end," Pederson said during his introductory press conference Monday, according to Foul Territory.

"It's time for us (the Rangers) to take over the West."

Pederson was inked to a two-year, $37-million contract by the Rangers, giving Texas another veteran player with World Series wins under his belt.

The 32-year-old knows what it's like to beat the Astros in the World Series. He did it as a member of the Atlanta Braves in 2021, which came one year after he captured his first World Series ring with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Pederson was also part of the 2017 Dodgers squad that lost to the Astros in the Fall Classic.

Texas most recently won the World Series in 2023, but only after losing the division crown to the Astros on the final day of that season. The Rangers haven't finished first in the AL West since 2016, with the Astros winning the division in seven of the next eight campaigns.

Pederson believes the Rangers have what it takes to take the crown from the Astros during the upcoming campaign, but he also has his sights set on a third World Series ring.

"There's lots of things that are going in the right direction for the Rangers to be on top of this division," Pederson said.

"I told CY (Chris Young) that all we've got to do is get to the playoffs. You let (manager Bruce) Bochy do what Bochy does in the playoffs, it usually comes well, and then you add in a sprinkle of (Corey) Seager in there, and the next thing you know we're all walking around with more rings."