Joc Pederson returns to Giants eager to get back to playoffs

By JANIE McCAULEY The Associated Press

FILE - San Francisco Giants' Joc Pederson advances to third on a single by J.D. Davis during the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in San Francisco on Sept. 28, 2022. Outfielder Joc Pederson and left-hander Martín Pérez were the only players to accept $19.65 million qualifying offers from their former teams on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022. and end their free agency. Pederson decided to stay with the Giants and Pérez with the Texas Rangers. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Godofredo A. Vásquez]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Still miffed about missing the playoffs, Joc Pederson is determined to stick by the San Francisco Giants and help them return to their winning ways of 2021. The outspoken outfielder accepted a $19.65 million, one-year qualifying offer from the Giants for the 2023 season. San Francisco finished 81-81 for third place in the NL West after a franchise-best 107 wins and a division title in 2021 before losing the best-of-five NL Division Series in five games to the rival Dodgers.