Free-agent outfielder Yasiel Puig hasn’t played in the majors since 2019, but the league hasn’t forgotten about him. Several clubs – the Red Sox, Yankees, Astros, Marlins and Orioles – “appear to have varying levels of interest” in Puig, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com tweets.
After a largely successful career with the Dodgers, Reds and Cleveland from 2013-19, Puig looked like a surefire bet to land a guaranteed contract last offseason. But the former All-Star didn’t encounter as much serious interest as expected, and he didn’t find a deal until the Braves agreed to sign him in the middle of July – shortly before the truncated season was set to begin. However, the contract never became official because Puig tested positive for COVID-19 just a few days later. Considering how long it would have taken Puig to recover and get up to speed, it was seemingly too late for the Braves or another big league club to sign him before the year ended.
Although last year was a lost season for Puig, he does appear to be an appealing buy-low type for MLB teams that aren’t necessarily looking to spend big on outfield help in free agency or via trade. Puig, who turned 30 last month, is the owner of a .277/.348/.475 line with 132 home runs and 79 stolen bases across 3,376 plate appearances. That history of above-average production should help Puig land a reasonably priced contract before next season starts.
Nothing to do about the 5c head.
Is Crash still coaching somewhere? He might help 🙂
5 cent is a little harsh. maybe a little crazy, but he’s not a big off the field troublemaker.
He’s been caught multiple times for speeding and reckless in danger endangerment. He laid his way out of them but he has been a problem off the field.
oh wow speeding and reckless driving who really give a f. in most states 15 over posted limits is reckless driving. heck if i had the money puig has to buy a car like that i wouldn’t have a dl either. if his off-field issues is that he has a lead foot i’ll take better than getting arrested for getting into a fist fight with an idiot fan in a strip club.
2013 was now 7 years ago….when he was ~23 years old. He’s not a problem off field.
most of that stuff was a long time ago, and while that’s not stuff to gloss over, its also not akin to some of the truely criminal activities some players have engaged in.
Speeding tickets aren’t considered off field issues by most adults.
For comparison, Blue jays are beating off in public.
It was either that or Blue(ball)Jays.
Who did he lay?
Screwball8 Huh?
Agreed doesn’t seem to an off the field issue. What does seem clear is that people just don’t want high around. Personality matters, there’s a reason team move on so quickly and others have little interest.
Wrong. Reckless driving mostly happens when you’re doing double the speed limit.
But he does lick his bat. Certainly not a crime, but probably should be.
As long as it’s done it in the privacy of his own home and as a consenting adult, I have no issue with his behavior. The only crime most of us should feel is envy!
There’s a reason why the White Sox (who have ALL the Cubans) don’t want anything to do with him…
Hah, Astros got a few Cuban players as well.
That’s not true. Yasiel Puig was mentioned as a White Sox trade target several times when he was a member of the Dodgers. The White Sox also met with Puig and his representatives last offseason at the December Winter Meetings after first vetting him with Jose Abreu and newly signed former Puig teammate Yasmani Grandal. The front office was said to be impressed with Puig at those meetings but instead decided to trade for a younger and cheaper Nomar Mazara, something they likely regret doing in hindsight.
I think hes more of a issue in the dressing room then his personal life being team issue
Dressing room?
2020WC…ya know, where they put on their make-up and costumes!
Best to “pay no attention to the man behind the curtain”, especially if he’s licking his own bat!
If I could lick my own bat, I would never leave the house
I’m hoping the Yankees sign Puig.
If he comes in under 1 million on a ONE year deal Red Sox MIGHT be interested
Was going to say the first couple years he was kind of a hot head and had some incidents off the field…but nothing recently. He does get fired up once in a while still, but didn’t think it’s enough to not sign him
Marlins and Donny baseball… LOL
I still wonder why the Marlins keep being mentioned. People keep forgetting about Mattingly not wanting Puig on his team back in L.A. If there’s any change of heart to that, is if Mattingly feels that Puig has learned his lesson with no one signing him last year. Other than that. I don’t see the Marlins getting in on him, especially with Jeter and Co. trying to build a winning culture, which is what they started showing this past season (although a very short season).
The time to sign him was last season. With Marte aboard there is no reason. All we have are OFers now. I rather keep trying them out
The Marlins are said to be wanting to add a corner Outfielder so they mustn’t be that impressed with what is currently on the roster
Puig isn’t a fit for the Marlins. They are more likely to go with a lefty bat that is either a vet or a young low-risk player like Nomar Mazara to compete with what they already have – Ramirez, Brinson, Sierra, Harrison and Sanchez..
Marlins? Building a winning culture? Must have been in a coma.
Because the Mets have such a rich history of winning right?
1969 and 1986. It’s been awhile for the other NY team too 2009….
@MetsFan22 I know one thing. I’ve seen my team winning championships. Have you?
And lets see…
Marlins = 2 championships in 27 seasons
Mets = 2 championships in 58 seasons
*1994 not counted.
The Os really do make sense. If he does well he can be traded to a contender. The Os get some one people will watch, he gets some ABs and if it goes well, the Os get some prospects and he can possibly get a ring.
Nah, he’s going to a contender.
There will be no some one people watching.
I agree. It would benefit both the Orioles and Puig
Eddie Rosario got let go from a contender and I think he’s preferable to Puig.
Yeah but money.
Agree. Rosario was going to cost $10M and Puig will give better production for $5M
This is quite interesting. I assume Mountcastle, Hays, Mullins, Santander, Mancini, Stewart are the main options for OF thus far. According to Roch, Mancini will probably be a 1B/DH. Puig might be blocking player development(but maybe not that much if he will be traded at the deadline).
Just a few possibilities:
1)Buy low on Puig sell to continue building prospect pipeline
2)Possible trade acquisition for some of the OF names above
3)Davis cut bait
4)Driving up price
This is all true. Not to mention the fact that Hayes and Santander cannot stay on the field. both are oft injured and it has seriously affected Hays and what he could have been.
I agree completely. Hays will run through walls to catch a ball, but that doesn’t come without some consequences. Sucks to see Santander get that season-ending surgery for the kind of year he was having. Might be an insurance play too.
Wonder what Ng and Jeter have to give Mattingly to go along with this since he threatened to quit when the Marlins tried to get Puig for Stanton.
I don’t see the fit with the Yankees. For the Red Sox we’ve known Bloom has had interest in Puig since last year. For the Orioles could be a nice buy low option to flip at the deadline if he’s producing
Agreed, not really sure where he fits in New York. I think he goes to Miami or Houston, where there’s corner OF need in both places, and he’s an average to above-average hitter that could slot in well in those lineups.
Houston would be VERY interesting, given that he was on that 2017 Dodgers team. It would be an odd clubhouse with him and Correa together.
Houston has two gaping holes in the Outfield and we have heard very little about how they plan to fill them. They have not been mentioned in any rumors about trying to bring back Springer or Brantley. Kyle Tucker can handle LF (or RF if they sign another LF’er). Myles Straw is purely a bench piece. Yordan Alvarez is probably not a viable option in the OF. Chas McCormick and/or Ronnie Dawson could be possibilities if they decide not to add Outfield help from outside the organization
@Rsox –
Yeah, the “fit” with the Yanks is tenuous at best.
But.
Cashman:
– loves RH power hitters
– loves depth
– loves to make “value” additions
I think Puig could be shoehorned onto the roster. It’s far from a perfect fit, however.
Varying levels of interest, or varying levels of non-interest?
Blecch!!
Balmore
In addition to a solid batting line Puig comes with plus defensive value. It should also be said, because it almost never is. Of course Puig also comes with being Puig, and there doesn’t seem to be a lot of ground between love and hate when it comes to that.
He’s had positive defensive value for 1 season.
Actually, if you go by DRS on BBref, he’s had positive value in 4 different seasons.
I’d enjoy him in Boston depending if he plays hard. I like personalities n he’s one.
He’s always played hard IMO.
in Boston, I d like to see the full roster. I can’t see AV in center and they already signed Renfroe.
I don’t think that signing Renfroe should stop them from going out after Puig. Renfroe is their 4th OF. He likely isn’t going to be taking up a good chunk of playing time from anyone.
if adding Hunter Renfroe is enough to preclude them from making any other moves for the outfield or otherwise, wake me up in 2025.
Benintendi could play CF too… I know he was atrocious offensively in 2020 but you have to hope he can return at least to 2019 form next year. Not that that was great either… but still playable. As for Renfroe… I think (and hope) he’s going to be used as their 4th OF or in some sort of platoon scenario. He could wind up being more than that if he makes enough contact especially with Fenways short dimensions his power could really blossom. But regardless I think even with Renfroe there is still plenty of room for Puig (or another OF) on their roster.
Like I say if he willing to take a ONE year deal for no more than 1 million the Red sox MIGHT be interested
Agreed, Pasha. I think he would add a lot of flair to the clubhouse. I’d be down to see if it’d work out.
He has to play hard in order to lick his own bat….duh!
Please put Puig on the Red Sox or Yankees, it would be so funny for the rest of us.
What? No Blue Jays interest?
lol or the Mets.
Either the Marlins or the (lol) Stros’ go get him.
I don’t know about the accusations against him, but despite that, the crew over at Momentum and Rachael Luba are really trying to market Puig as a passionate player, not a crazy one. I have a feeling that teams are hesitant to go near him right now because of the allegations, but he is putting in the work and he’s really trying to come back.
Puig is 110% crazy.
My kind of guy!
While I don’t really care for the personality, he’s 2.5 WAR/year player whose gonna hit about .275 with 25-30 homers. Astros need two outfielders. If you can sign him for cheap that is worth taking a chance on.
His 2 HRs in 200+ ABs in Cleveland says otherwise.
Still hit 24 overall that season and 20+ in the two seasons prior.
Two homers in over 200 plate appearances is not a small sample. Where did the power go? Nobody wants him as a slap hitter and clubhouse guy.
I’m probably one of the only giants fans that wants to see Puig in right field at oracle park. He was always so dominant against the giants at the home park, and his cannon of an arm. **chef’s kiss**
Also seeing him piss off madbum would be amazing.
No, I agree with you, there’s something about former dodgers doing well later in there career on the Giants, and unfortunately for that matter former Giants doing well on the dodgers. I think a year of Puig in SF fits the model and ironically it might make sense to have him around the young guys to tell them how much cockiness can cost them when it comes time to get paid.
So AJ if youncould choose one of Profar or Puig who would it be?
Puig=more power better defense
Profar=better base running may hit for a higher avg.
Profar is a good clubhouse guy
Puig is still raw athleticism
Both are great bench options/DH
I think it’s a crapshoot but as a Padres fan Of love either one.
I haven’t hear anything bad about Puig’s attitude with teammates since like 2013.
Pirates should sign him.
.
Seriously.
They honestly should, but he would cost money so they won’t. Also, not sure if it would matter, but when Puig was a Red in 2019 the Reds and Pirates had quite the bench clearer during a game, and Puig tried to fight pretty much the entire Pirates team. It’s probably forgotten by now, but there could be a sore feeling left over here or there.
You must be too young to remember the George Hendricks and Derek Bell eras.
Perfect buy low guy for certain teams that can sign him to a cheap one year deal….hope he is hot in the first half and then might get a decent return in a trade mid season…Giants, Detroit, Boston, Pittsburg to name a few
Considering his role would be full-time, the chance to go to a contender at the break, and a great hitters park, the Orioles would be a good fit. Will shall see how smart he is in his choice.
he’d be a hit in Miami
It’s seldom discussed nationally, but when Puig was a Dodger, he would regularly take an elementary school class and its teacher on a private tour of Dodger Stadium and then give each child a hot dog, drink, and a Dodger t-shirt, all on his dime. I’ve been a Dodger fan since 1971, and Puig is the only player I’ve ever heard of who did something like this.
I once saw Puig get an inside-the-park home run when a single got past the opposing team’s center fielder and the ball rolled to the wall.
I’ve seen Puig make some outstanding defensive plays and throws to keep a guy from scoring.
Puig is a big kid, and sometimes the kid tests the parents one too many times. This is what happened in L.A. He now seems to understand that he really needs to listen to his coaches.
Puig is a passionate player who always goes full tilt. This obviously rubs some people the wrong way.
I know he cannot return to the Dodgers as there is no place for him to play regularly. I wish the Angels would sign him. If not Anaheim, then I hope there is a way for Puig and Mattingly to coexist in Miami.
Wherever he goes, I hope that team’s fans enjoy him as much as Dodger fans once did.
All true!
Who else licks his bat? Puig was the most fun player to watch since Jose Lima, and he also annoyed some fans and other players to no end. Too many people trying to make Puig into a bad person, mostly ones who I suspect never really spent any time watching him do his unique thing. I mean if Bill Lee was playing today some fans would probably call him a clubhouse cancer, when he wasn’t doing anything but being himself.
why people think Bauer is cool but Puig is crazy is absurd to me. Puig is fun to see on the field. Bauer might be a neat follow on social media or something, but no one watches baseball to see twitter personalities. Puig is good for the game. we need more players like him.
Good luck finding more players like Puig. But I get what you mean. As the game has grown more and more corporate it has less room for eccentrics and others with big personalties.
Many of us do not find Bauer cool. Many are wary that he can be polarizing and could turn into a clubhouse cancer depending upon the team, just like Puig could
I don’t think that Puig is a bad person but has shown a bunch of frustrating traits. Does not make him a bad person just makes him a bit polarizing. If you ar a polarizing player within the clubhouse, you can easily become a cancer.
I thought polarization cured cancer. Anyway… a ball club is not so different from any other workplace. Not everybody is going to like everyone else, or has to, but if everyone is grownup about their differences, it won’t matter.
At least Puig was never rumored to pee on his hands like other hitters such as Moises Alou. Licking a bat after gripping one with urine would have been more distasteful.
I personally love the smell of pine tar in the morning but licking a bat with too much on it might be akin to a kid tasting a playground pole in the dead of winter.
From Cuba to LA at that age had to be a big adjustment for him. Seems he has grown up the last few years. Teams with a hole in RF should strongly consider him.
It’s for the same reasons some people don’t like Trevor Bauer except he does it with words and the occasional toss of a ball over a wall. I hope he learns that this will be a his last chance to score a big contract after ’21. He’ll also probably want to sign with a team where he can play full-time.
Thanks, I appreciate the class outing story. Too many folks try to dump on too many players.
You’re welcome.
I seen Puig play in Chattanooga on several occasions. Always nice to the fans. He definitely has a lot of talent and can put up good numbers.
Holy cow me too! I use to live in Chattanooga and go to lookouts games all the time
A few days ago, there were rumors on Twitter about the Dodgers and A’s discussing a Matt Chapman trade. However, I have not seen an article on this site about this. Is this trade a real possibility? Former A’s beat writer Susan Slusser downplayed it as her final A’s-related tweet before starting her new job as Giants beat writer. Still, I’ve seen nothing about this potential trade anywhere else. Does anybody know anything about this?
Fake news
Thank you.
A’s are not likely to trade Chapman coming off of surgery for a torn hip labrum, his value right now would be pretty low until teams see him on the field. If the Dodgers want to gamble on an injured 3B they could just re-sign the one they had.
Cubs. Low cost. Hole in LF. Makes sense to me.
I thought he was the perfect fit for the WhiteSox before the drunk old man came around
Why, would he breaking into the old man’s office & drinking all his booze? Trust me Tony is STOCKED UP!
LOL
The White Sox could still use a designated hitter. Yasiel Puig could also be Tony La Russa’s designated driver!
This is the best the Red Sox can do? Puig is terrible in the clubhouse and doesn’t give 100% on the field. If you ask me, that doesn’t sound like Chaim Bloom’s philosophy.
He would be worth if cheap but that’s it.
That sounds like the opposite of Puig as a player, honestly. Have you ever even watched him play?
He does play with rage but I still believe he has terrible sportsmanship. There’s a reason why he rarely wins on teams he plays for. Kind of like Bryce Harper.
As much as I am not a fan of signing him for Detroit, if they did the year could be call the redemption Tigers.
Nationals have a corner OF spot and could use a right handed bat.
Nationals use a RHH?
I’m fairly surprised the Cardinals aren’t among the teams kicking the tires here. I know they generally shy away from potential “bad clubhouse” guys, but they need offense in their outfield and aren’t willing to spend a whole lot. Buying low on Puig would seem to fit their direction this off-season
There’s a pretty good article on B/R from a few years ago that goes into detail about his issues in the Dodgers clubhouse. They were extensive to say the least. To the point that several teammates and staff either left or threatened to leave if he stuck around. That being said, things seemed to have died down since his time in LA.
bleacherreport.com/articles/2597460-is-there-anybo…
It was a good read, but it was also from 2015. The difference between the 24 y.o. Joey, and the 29 y.o. Joey was huge.
And I wouldn’t be mad if St. Louis took a chance on him. He’d probably single-handedly produce equivalent offense to ALL THREE outfielders combined that they send out there this season. (And yes, I’m being facetious…kinda.)
Carlson and Bader aren’t going anywhere, I don’t think. If Bader can continue putting up a 107 wRC+ with elite CF defense, he’s definitely valuable. I’d rather have Pederson (as a Cards fan myself) to either start or platoon with O’Neill in LF, honestly. Puig has some power, but I think Mo can better.
We can keep hoping for Bader and O’Neil to learn how to hit a baseball at the Major League level. Or we could equally hope for MLB to put the baseball on a tee for them. But I’ve seen enough to not hold my breath. Pederson is just another similar player – low contact/high power – albeit he at least hits from the left side. And I honestly think he’ll be priced out of the Cardinals comfort zone. I’d prefer a one year deal for someone. Carlson did not look like a Major League player at all last year, regardless of how upbeat the fans want to be about him. He’s still VERY young and basically skipped AAA. He needs more development before the Cards should count on him.
And I’m not “arguing” for Puig by any means. But if he came cheap , they could do worse. The Cards need someone who can legitimately protect Goldschmidt. Preferably in front of and behind him. It was Brad F’n Miller last year (sigh). That’s how bad the hitters on the team are. Teams certainly can do worse that O’Neil in LF (GG), Bader in CF (future GG?), and Carlson in RF for the future. But, god, they can’t be counted on this season.
what is the latest here?
Miami… that’d be an interesting story. And an interesting move for both sides. I’m not sure I get the Yankees interest, and I’m never sure about anything with Boston anymore. It makes perfect sense for Baltimore to want him, but unless it’s the only offer in town I’d expect him to want to play for a team that’s got at least an outside shot.
Puig one of the best RF in the game
It’s not 2014
As an average white guy, my favorite all time player is Griffey Jr. So I’m not a racist, right? But wait! I don’t like Puig! Maybe I am racist? But I loved Tony Oliva as a kid who’s Cuban like Puig. So maybe not racist? I loved Koufax, a jew. No anti semitism here! But I’m not a fan of Paul Goldschmidt. JEW HATER! I like Will Myers but really dislike Bryce Harper. Now I’m confused? I like Mike Trout (sure, he’s a white guy) but I don’t like Vlad Jr. (RACIST!) But I love Edgar Martinez. Confused again.
This race card crap is way beyond it’s sell by date and is getting old. Sports are the most colorblind of endeavors. Who cares what color you are? Can you perform? Are you a good teammate? Drop the race crap when it comes to sports and save it for real racism that exists in other segments of society.
Well said!
“As an average white guy”, I’ll bet you were also a fan of The Average White Band, a group of whitey Scott’s who only played black music, no?
They played soul, which has no color.
They played R&B and soul during the disco craze of the 1970’s, popular music played by many bands, black and white. The seeds of this music were black, most of which was sowed and grown by black musicians. Rock & Roll also had its roots in black music but was propagated primarily by white musicians.
Your comment was the first one I saw bringing up race actually
You know this guy is trouble if the Jay’s aren’t interested
Every team looking for a corner OF with a cannon should be looking at Puig. Boston was the first team to come to mind.
Yasiel Puig’s ideal position is RF. The Red Sox already have a cannon arm in RF named Alex Verdugo who should remain there and not move to CF. It’s also a bad idea to have LF Andrew Benintendi play CF. Boston also just signed corner OF Hunter Renfroe, a right handed hitting lefty masher who should be in a strict platoon role with a lefty hitter. The Red Sox are also set at DH with J.D. Martinez who can be used as an emergency backup in the corners.
Puig is not a good fit in Boston. The only outfield position the Red Sox should be seeking to improve is CF. If they want to spend the cash, their ideal candidate would be Connecticut native George Springer who grew up as a die-hard Boston fan and who’s dream team would be his beloved Red Sox. Springer would also be the only current free agent capable of replacing Mookie Betts bat in their lineup. If the Red Sox don’t want to shell out another mega-contract, they should then look to re-sign FA Jackie Bradley Jr.
Yasiel Puig’s ideal position is RF. The Red Sox already have a cannon arm in RF named Alex Verdugo who should remain there and not move to CF. It’s also a bad idea to have LF Andrew Benintendi play CF. Boston also just signed corner OF Hunter Renfroe, a right handed hitting lefty masher who should be in a strict platoon role with a lefty hitter. The Red Sox are also set at DH with J.D. Martinez who can be used as an emergency backup in the corners.
Puig is not a good fit in Boston. The only outfield position the Red Sox should be seeking to improve is CF. If they want to spend the cash, their ideal candidate would be Connecticut native George Springer who grew up as a die-hard Boston fan and who’s dream team would be his beloved Red Sox. Springer would also be the only current free agent capable of replacing Mookie Betts bat in their lineup. If the Red Sox don’t want to shell out another mega-contract, they should then look to re-sign FA Jackie Bradley Jr.
First, Benintendi nor Renfroe should be penciled into any starting position.
Second, Verdugo should be considered the CF if a CF is not signed.
Third, I doubt anyone will say Renfroe is better than Puig. Some might.
Four, you really believe Puig is going to command big money? I think his agent has lost leverage from last year.
1-I agree that Benintendi and Renfroe are probably best served as platoon corner OF’s on a legit World Series team. They could perform in that role this season with Benintendi getting the majority of PA’s as the lefty bat in a strict LF platoon although Renfroe does have the arm to play in RF. That said, Benintendi was the everyday LF for the Red Sox and posted impressive numbers when they won their last title in 2018.
2-Verdugo is the Red Sox current CF by default. It’s not his ideal position and it’s not the one he prefers to play. He played more CF as a Dodger but only appeared once out there for the Red Sox in 2020, mostly because of Jackie Bradley Jr. Verdugo handled CF OK in LA but Fenway Park is a different animal. He is a prototypical RF and would a particularly good fit in the untypical dimensions of Fenway.
3-I never suggested Renfroe is better than Puig but clearly Chaim Bloom chose the former over the latter as a free agent this offseason.
4-I never suggested that Puig would command a high salary. I only referred to the high contract demands of George Springer who is by far the better fit for the Red Sox as a true center fielder, a position he could remain at if he signed with his beloved Red Sox. JBJ will also likely command a higher FA contract than what Puig will get. He is also a far better fit for the Red Sox as an elite CF who actually took home a Gold Glove in 2018 and was probably even more deserving of the award in some of his previous seasons.
That’s cool. Didn’t mean to come off as a jerk in my post. My first thought was Boston due to my low opinion of Renfroe and presuming JBJ goes elsewhere. I do agree with you on the Fenway, and that was one point I brought up a couple days ago for those down on JBJ’s defense. Playing that CF area in Fenway is difficult to say the least.
I’m probably one of the few who wouldn’t mind him with the White Sox, for the right deal of course.
No he is worth a shot. Would be fun to see steam actually come out of LaRussa’s ears.
I believe the Yasiel Puig ship sailed when the White Sox re-signed free agent RF Adam Eaton. They had their pick of two RF free agent ‘head cases’ and chose ‘Spanky’. lol
All kidding aside, Eaton was the better lineup fit for the White Sox with a left-handed bat that makes decent contact. Puig could potentially fit in as a backup corner OF and DH candidate but I believe the front office would again prefer to add another lefty hitter for that role. Michael Brantley with his high BA/OBP contact bat should be their ideal target but they might settle for a high OBP/SLG hitter like Kyle Schwarber who figures to be cheaper in terms of dollars and years.
The White Sox might be reluctant to invest too many years and dollars into a position that figures to be manned by top prospect Andrew Vaughn sooner rather than later. All this is dependent on how comfortable they feel about Vaughn becoming an impact hitter as their primary DH and 1B backup to Jose Abreu in 2021. As impressive as Vaughn was at their alternate site this past season, he still hasn’t had an official bat above A+ Winston-Salem. With their eyes set on potentially winning a World Series title as soon as 2021, the front office might opt for a more proven hitter to be their DH this season, somebody a little younger and more versatile afield than what Edwin Encarnacion provided in 2020.
If Mattingly is ok I am ok.
“Shoulder yesterday, back today, so I’m not sure if they’re going to get him tests or get him to the MRI Monday or a bone scan on Tuesday, maybe,” Mattingly memorably said during the Dodgers’ season-opening series in Australia in 2014, sarcasm thick as pine tar. “I’m not quite sure what we’ll do. We may not do anything. I’m not sure.”
I watched him as a Red in person quite a bit. He plays harder than anyone on the field. He has some issues but again effort is never one of them. Definitely worth a flyer
Puig in a nustshell…
latimes.com/sports/dodgers/la-sp-yasiel-puig-dodge…
Not quite complete? O the verge of something?
craigin805. Thanks for the article.
This article is NOT a nut shell, it’s more like War and Peace. Is there a Readers Digest Condensed Version available for people that actually have lives & would like to get on with them? Geeeeez!
Five minutes is too much of your time? You’re obviously way too busy to be posting here.
I’m just a really slow reader.
Would love to see the Angels have interest. He has 2 things that the Angels could use: personality and swagger. For all of his problems it would be fun to see him in right field with that rifle arm.
I agree. If Adell needs a season at AA-AAA Puig would be a good 1yr+option contract to bridge the gap til Adell/Marsh are really ready for the bigs…if the price is right.
No thank you.
Jed Hoyer, the phone is for you…
Not sure why the Orioles are still linked to him. He’s not going to be part of a rebuild, and the corner outfield spots are taken up by Santander and Mountcastle. Young outfielders is one of their few organizational strengths, Also I suspect Puig will want a salary higher than the O’s are willing to pay, given that they non-tendered Nunez and Alberto because they were looking at $2.5M and $1.5m arbitration salaries,
it amazes me how much hate Puig gets. he’s a heck of a talent and an asset to the game.
I think the comment before got deleted. Anyway, not following your defensive assignment in a World Series game, leading to a loss will do that to a player.
one incident doesnt make you an overall headcase.
830 – He gets criticized because he has so much talent but has squandered it. He could have been a legend but instead we are talking about a 1 year cheap deal filled with incentives. That’s his own fault.
there are loads of players who “could have been legends” based on whatever criteria you want to provide. if you really expected he’d be that good then maybe you were a little too optimistic.
No doubt asset to the game but heck of a talent is a big stretch –
Hes rocked a 798 Ops in his last 2800 Pa’s {ages 24-28}
Hes 0-3 so far in career “fits” with orgs. All of which were in huge need of a Right hander OF’er at the time, all of which under a very small contract –
1-4 is .250 tho and that aint bad in baseball {these days} – Im pulling for him this year but his ideal fit is on a team like Det not a contender imo
im not saying he’s a superstar, but he hits well but also provides the flair that fans enjoy to see. that’s what i mean by “talent” here.
Really wouldn’t mind the Tigers signing him for a couple years For a decent amount We Will take as much attention as we can get having this Attention magnet on our team lol
As a RS fan, I wouldn’t mind having Cora chat with him. If Cora felt Puig was worth an investment, I wouldn’t mind putting some money on the table. I’d have to guess he’d be plenty motivated, and Fenway is a good place for a motivated hitter to make a comeback.
Puig has zero launch angle in his swing…one of the few RH hitters that wouldnt benefit and perhaps be hindered by the monster-
He would probably lose Hrs there based on his typical missile Hrs that clear the fence by 8 ft vertical only
And then we want him to navigate that RF with the glove ? It would be worlds of fun thats for sure !
That city also doesnt seem like a good fit for Puig whatsoever
Articles about Puig are like a car crash. He’s a wreck but you have to read it. Any team would have to give him 2 lockers: one for his stuff and one for his ego. He’s not good enough to deal with his baggage.
Puig usually plays hard. He also plays dumb, too many bad decisions on the field.
Puig also cannot control himself, which leads to problems every season.
Off the field, at least lately, he has been a good citizen, with lots of charity work.
No team in MLB has more outfield needs than Cleveland, and the Indians let him walk without showing any interest. And then no team showed much more than passing interest in him BEFORE Covid. That should be all anybody needs to know.
He is a name from the past. Since his first two seasons, Puig has been roughly a 1.6 WAR player.
Nice post Cats, I wish i would’ve read this before wasting my time posting the same thing
Also Cincy whoes been void of Of’ers for years (Hello Billy Hams) kindly pushed him along for peanuts after they payed a pretty good price to obtain him earlier that year
After his first 2 great seasons his OPs is 798 as well moving forward….and thats with much of his remaining LAD abs tailored for him as well
Your correct most people are just name dropping here- I see a common theme we need a RH Of….I hope those same people realize hes a reverse splits guy these days so careful what you think you want/need
Nationals need a corner OF. Soto can play either LF or RF and doesn’t necessarily have a preference. That would be a FUN outfield. Soto, Robles and Puig. Not expensive and potentially tremendously productive.
Trea Turner SS
Starlin Castro 2B
Juan Soto LF
Josh Bell 1B
Yasiel Puig RF
Carter Kieboom 3B
Victor Robles CF
Yan Gomes C
Garcia, Harrison, Stevenson off the bench. Looking better I think.
He might be a good fit on that team.
Yes, Boston should be a real possibility for Puig if he accepts a short term contract for short money probably with incentives to make it palatable for Puig.
the big bat st. louis needs. a polar opposite to carpenters cancer. maybe he could get inside carlos martinez’s head and he could cancel out a cancer and a head case
I haven’t heard anything about SF being interested in Puig at this time, but perhaps they should be. I heard they came really close to signing him last year. SF has Dickerson and Yaz in the OF, and the third spot is a toss-up. Austin Slater might get it, but he’s a wildcard. Puig could still be a threat and might fit on a team like the Giants, who are (hopefully) coming towards the end of a rebuild.
No we shouldn’t. Puig is a terrible person
Cubs suk, they love signing washed up, injured players, or Japknees that are worse than little leaguers. Send him there. $10 will get yo $20 that the Cubs are the 1st to sign a woman player.
I hope he’s signed somewhere. I really don’t care where. I just wanna watch what happens ; the good , the bad and everything else. Can’t wait for the news.
That being said, I’d love to see him in Colorado.
Still only 30. Seems like a potentially decent buy-low candidate for some team.
If you ask his last 2 teams he was a buy high that they regret sorely; one in which has a supreme need for Of’ers and has shown zero interest
He was used as a reverse split platoon player by the team before that as well at the ripe age of 25
you’ve been reading too much trade rumors using phrases like still only thirty.
I think this board over rates Puigs skill-
Last 2700 Pa’s (since 14) Ops- 798 ….thats Not a typo folks
Puig is a fast guy whoes terrible at stealing bases (career rate sub 65% truly awful) Hes also a truly awful baserunner and gets thrown out all the time doing bonehead things out there
Hes got great def skills but hes NOT a good defender – He will make great plays and some truly terrible ones the next inn
Hes got extreme power but he doesnt hit many hrs (hes cleared 25 once)
As much as his off field persona {might} be overated (Im not sure I sure dont see Cle Cin Lad asking ) his On field skills are vastly overated here as well
If theres any question of clubhouse fit you are not going to rock the boat for a 798 Ops…Its easy to see why nobody wants Puig
he nearly got signed last year if not for covid. how is that nobody wanting him?
I still think he should play in Little Havana… er, 35th & Shields.
Puigs career defensive war is -0.2 …. thats a negative indeed
Last 5 yrs – Hes been under a 1 war player 3 times
The ceiling last 5 years – 2.1 war in 2018
And he was ages 24-28 in this span
I guess someone has to play right while Judge spends his annual IL stints….
I think he should go to a NL West team so he can spend more time with his bff Madison Bumgarner
Only for tv ratings, would that happen
This dude rakes and hits bombs.
He’s also a troublemaker
As a Braves fan, I think Puig should sign with the Marlins
Boston should pass….