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Rangers' Joc Pederson, Kyle Higashioka and Jakob Junis decline mutual options
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- Rangers' Joc Pederson, Kyle Higashioka and Jakob Junis decline mutual options
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Designated hitter Joc Pederson, catcher Kyle Higashioka and right-hander Jakob Junis declined their mutual options with the Texas Rangers, the team said Saturday.
All three became eligible for free agency.
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Pederson turned down an $18 million option that did not include a buyout, part of a $37 million, two-year contract . The 34-year-old, a two-time All-Star, hit .235 with 26 homers and 53 RBIs in 136 games. He did not play after Sept. 12, when he fractured his left wrist upon getting hit by a 93.3 mph fastball from Arizona's Brandon Pfaadt.
Higashioka declined a $7 million option and gets a $1 million buyout, completing a $13.5 million, two-year contract . The 36-year-old hit .218 with seven homers and 18 RBIs in 56 games this year. He played his last major league game on July 20 because of a right flexor strain , then played in 11 games at Triple-A Round Rock from Sept. 4-20 during an injury rehabilitation assignment.
Junis turned down a $5 million option and receives a $1.25 million buyout as part of a $4 million, one-year contract . The 34-year-old was 1-3 with a 3.64 ERA in 52 relief appearances. He didn't pitch between June 29 and July 18 because of hip impingement and between July 28 and Aug. 15 because of a left adductor strain.
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