JANUARY 24: Jon Heyman of MLB Network casts doubt on the Yankees as a potential fit for Puig, tweeting that there’s “no evidence” New York has interest in adding another right-handed hitting outfielder.
JANUARY 23: The Marlins have been tied to a number of outfielders lately, including Anthony Santander of the Orioles and Andrew Benintendi of the Red Sox. Limited financial resources will curb their willingness to bid on free agent options like Adam Duvall and Eddie Rosario, tweets Jon Heyman. They do, however, have some prospect capital that they’re willing to spend on the right player. At present, Corey Dickerson returns to left, Starling Marte to center, and Garrett Cooper to right, with Brian Anderson occasionally shifting from third base to right, and Lewis Brinson, Harold Ramirez, and Magneuris Sierra filling as speed and defensive replacements. If the Marlins go the free agent route, however, they may explore a union with Yasiel Puig. Not having played in the Majors since 2019, Puig is a candidate to sign a value or incentive-laden deal, should if he land a contract this winter.
The Yankees and Royals are also possible destinations for Puig, per Jim Bowden of MLB Network (via Twitter). For the Royals’ part, they have been looking for another bat to join a largely-unproven group in the grass made up of Franchy Cordero, Michael A. Taylor, and a number of options who could end up elsewhere on the diamond, such as Whit Merrifield, Ryan McBroom, Hunter Dozier, and likely DH Jorge Soler. In looking to add to that group, they’ve generally zeroed in on left-handed hitters. Even with the group they have in-house, the Royals could possibly still add a couple of outfielders, if the price were right.
As for the Yankees, they would be a surprising destination for Puig, if there were no corresponding moves. They are, after all, pretty well-stocked in the outfield with Aaron Hicks, Clint Frazier, Aaron Judge, and Mike Tauchman on the roster, Greg Allen on the 40-man roster, and Brett Gardner hanging out in free agency. Puig’s colorful personality would also be an interesting fit on the Yankees, who for literal and metaphorical reasons are generally regarded as a clean-cut organization. Still, that doesn’t preclude Puig from heading to the Bronx. After all, it’s not as if an interesting character or two haven’t donned pinstripes in the past.
Marlins should sign Nick Markakis to man right and platoon with a Brinson or Ramirez rather than sign Puig IMO.
First, NM has got to be done. He’s bat speed has just fallen off a cliff… he should retire on that alone and y’all probably shouldn’t want him. And I’m a huge NM fan…
2nd: gut says he’s gonna retire. I feel like either Atlanta or Baltimore will be his last stop and I don’t see him returning in 2021. But that’s a guess. He’s been regressing pretty quick and last year was brutally obvious
Fair enough… Josh Redick?
Am I the only one surprised that Stanton wasn’t mentioned at all in that long list of Yankee outfielders? I know he’s declined a lot defensively, but is there literally no chance of him playing any OF at all this year?
Same thought
Same here
Stanton is now Yankees full time DH
That’s MULARKEY.. If NM is able to play 3-4 more years get .260BA and 1600 ABs in that time which is very feasible based on his consistency his entire career, he will have 2800 hits and be roughly in the top 50 after that. Only Omar Visquel would have more hits and not be in the hall of fame (excluding currents and PED users like Palmeiro, Bonds, etc.) or expected to be in the hall someday (Jeter).
For his sake he should keep playing and chasing with the Orioles or any team willing to give him that chance. He may never get a World Series but to find a way to have a longshot at the hall of fame.. I’d do that.
He is so far away from HoF. Good player for a long time, not a above average player for a long time. 34 career WAR and 109 OPS+ spells out on first ballot.
3-4 years? He’s 37 now. How many teams are going to want to give an outfielder in their 40’s a contract? I understand he has a lot of hits, but we’re not talking about 50 hits to 3000, we’re talking about just over 600.
He is a one-time All-star, with 34 bWAR, That’s not close.
NM isn’t a starter any more. He’s a bench piece and would be a good mentor. He’ll never get 1600 more AB’s.
NM is done, it is what it is.
It worked for Bernie Mac in Mr. 3000!
Classic
Agreed, he would have to average 153 hits a season for 4 more seasons to hit 3,000
@Hosmer for HOF
FYI: Derek Jeter was voted into the Hall of Fame on his first ballot by the BBWAA with 396 votes (99.7%) in the class of 2020 that also included Larry Walker. Ted Simmons and Marvin Miller were also voted in by the Veterans Committee. All of them will have to wait until this coming July for their induction ceremony because the 2020 festivities were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Look at Kenny Lofton 68 War similar numbers to Tim Raines. Appeared on the HOF ballot one time and didn’t even get 5% of the vote. As much as I love Markakis he probably has no chance for the HOF at this point.
One former player with over 2,800 hits who clearly was far better than NM if eyes are used was Bill Buckner. He gets ridiculed for one play when he shouldn’t have been on the field and gets overshadowed because his playing days overlapped with so many other Hall consideration/worthy players including Garvey, Cooper, Mattingly and Hernandez. NM had a strong career but is not in the serious consideration category.
Markakis started out hitting as well as he ever had last season. He was then out with COVID, and wasn’t the same when he came back. Maybe he’s done, maybe he was suffering from after effects of the virus.
My understanding was out dude to close contact, not cause he got the virus. So health and significant regression wouldn’t make sense in this situation. Maybe a week to get back to norm after time off but not an entire season. He was straight overpowered this year guys. He looked brutal. It wasn’t a slight regression, it was very noticeable to both the naked eye and his stats. His obp was low .300 which is where most of his value is as a hitter… guy gets on base. And although he’s not a power hitter, his power completely disappeared last year. He wasn’t even hitting doubles… the dude just wasn’t swinging it at all…
Best chance for a decent season is the Rockies. Could/should do 12 HR 30 doubles and bat .275 if playing 110 games. as he Prefers the NL (Markakas).
Yasiel Puig should come to the Nationals
Mets should sign him and put him in center
He cannot play CF at all.
Neither can anyone else on the Mets!
Lol Mets absolutely have a CF issue as I keep hearing about how [Nimmo can play CF]…yes he CAN play CF but is simply not a natural CF, the Mets defensive runs saved for CF in 2020 was -5 (among the major leagues worst). No doubt Nimmos approach at the plate makes him a viable starting corner OF but not a CF. I am surprised to not hear names like Kevin Pillar come up. I strongly believe a move needs to be made as being strong up the middle is vital for improving & winning the east. Massive SS all around upgrade with blockbuster Lindor but eager to see what plan is for CF…
TBF Kevin Pillar isnt a spectacular CF option either. Loved him as a Blue Jay but even his last year with the Jays he had lost a step or two. He may get better reads than Nimmo there but I feel the underlying metrics would pretty much put them at par. Plus Nimmo’s bat is better. I find it odd they havent gone after JBJ yet. I know budget is getting tighter to that luxury tax but JBJ can be had for 12-15, which leaves about 15mil mid season to add where they see fit.
No doubt I would prefer to have JBJ even with his less than consistent bat. That range and arm roaming CF has a lot of value on its own, I’d take .240 hitter to have his defense. I just mean I would like to hear a report we are exploring a + defender (which I still personally think Pillar has a year or two left of). Nimmo drives me crazy in CF despite being a good athlete, he takes awful routes and has a Juan Pierre arm. Love his approach at the plate though.
Exactly!
JBJ wants too many years and way too much in salary. The Mets should sign Alberto Almora, Jr. as he is a good CFer with a good glove and arm. The Mets hitting coach, Chili Davis worked really well with Almora, Jr. while he was the BC for the Cubs. Almora, Jr. hit above 280 the two years that Chili coached him. Sign AAJ on a two year contract with an option for a third, or take a huge risk and see if Yasiel Puig is open to let Tony Tarasco coach him into being a competent CFer.
JBJ wants too many years and way too much in salary. The Mets should sign Alberto Almora, Jr. as he is a good CFer with a good glove and arm. The Mets hitting coach, Chili Davis worked really well with Almora, Jr. while he was the BC for the Cubs. Almora, Jr. hit above 280 the two years that Chili coached him. Sign AAJ on a two year contract with an option for a third, or take a huge risk and see if Yasiel Puig is open to let Tony Tarasco coach him into being a competent CFer.
JBJ wants too many years and way too much in salary. The Mets should sign Alberto Almora, Jr. as he is a good CFer with a good glove and arm. The Mets hitting coach, Chili Davis worked really well with Almora, Jr. while he was the BC for the Cubs. Almora, Jr. hit above 280 the two years that Chili coached him. Sign AAJ on a two year contract with an option for a third, or take a huge risk and see if Yasiel Puig is open to letting Tony Tarasco coach him into becoming a competent CFer in 2021.
@ RaeRae
Chili Davis was the hitting coach for the Cubs in 2018 only. He was hired in October of 2017 and fired the following October. Davis was the hitting coach of the Red Sox from 2015-2017. The Mets then hired Davis for the same position in November of 2018 after he was let go by the Cubs.
i mean, how much realistically would Duvall or Rosario cost? either could be had on a one year deal and that both were non tendered and haven’t signed yet doesnt suggest the market for them is hot.
They had pretty good years last year, I’d say on this current market, both of their values are more than they should be. Would hate the Marlins to get either, both make the team better
I could see the Braves signing Rosario for LF if they miss on Ozuna. He averaged 28 hr and 88 rbi from 2017-2019. He also had a good 2020. He is well worth $10 mil per year imo. The Twins saying that he isn’t surprised me.
At this point, I hope we do get Rosario… I’m struggling as a fan with this lack of movement and other teams in the division getting a lot better
but they were also both non-tendered, so they will likely get less then their tender values.
Would like to see Benintendi to the Marlins…lower pressure, reduced expectations could lift him.
lower pressure? how much pressure could possibly have been on him last year? and he was part of a WS winning team, so he cant exactly be allergic to pressure.
Dark side is right.. kinda silly to suggest pressure is an issue. He’s already been on the big stage from college ball and pro ball. And he’s been on the opposite end when no one expected Boston to be good.
Benintendi was injuried in 2020, he played in 14 games, before being shut down. How everyone is basing his future on 39 injury plagued ABs baffles me. In 2019 he was league average hitting (100 ops+).
At age 26, he is far from washed up, unless you think 2020 is a crystal ball, and he is going to strikeout 42% of the time forever.
Here’s the deal with Benny that too many people that didn’t follow him close don’t know/remember.
1) many have heard the prospect pedigree and college exploits with power that have been recently in the news as the trade scenarios got bandied about.
2) he had a breakout year in Boston.
3) he could see the writing on the wall. You want big arb money? Hit Hrs. He bulked up without team knowledge/instruction to do so reporting with waay more muscle and heavier. This altered his mechanics and had some effect on his movement on the field/basepaths even though he was always athletic.
4) the next offseason he worked on slimming down, trying to find his old swing and such – And getting back to what he was, but, after the no-real-ST year (and all the rest) he played a dozen games hurt before getting shut down.
Hes not a 40 ops+ hitter. He didn’t have major injuries threatening to end a whole career.
He DOES need some AAA time IMO to get right. Send him there to start 2021.
Well said, but if his foot speed was just a byproduct of his weight gain then why are they trying to trade him away? Not sure AAA is a good idea after being in The Show for more than 4 seasons, that could screw up his head.
Why are the Red Sox trying to trade Benintendi?
Red Sox are eying for ’22 and beyond. So, they are trying to trade everyone with value and short-term contract. Benintendi fits that bill to a T, unlike the majority of his teammates.
Yes. Everything GASoxFan said was spot-on until his last OP regarding Benintendi needing some time at AAA. Showing up for a full and uninterrupted 2021 spring training looking like the 4.5 bWAR ‘Beni’ of 2018 should be sufficient enough for him to begin the new season in some MLB teams opening day lineup, short of another injury.
Because his production is unlikely to again match his salary and another bad year and he’s released. If Bloom doesn’t expect a big time turn around, this is his last chance to get anything for him.
Big ballpark and if his speed is going down, not a good fit in my view.
You would think they would want to get Bennatendis value up before moving him though?
Enuff with the trading Benni!!!!!! Not gonna happen thank g**.
God isn’t a bad word, no need to edit it.
It is if you’re taking His name in vain; but then I would capitalize the G. Actually, it’s really bad. But, if you’re not, then who cares? World’s going to hell in a hand basket….. or it’s just going to end and there will be amoebas again (if that’s what you believe).
Back to baseball, Lord willing!
Meh. We’re going to wake up one day and the world will be back to normal, just like it always is. I’m old enough to remember so many of the ‘existential crises. that just fade away.
Puig to Boston wouldn’t be a bad idea at all. It would balance out their RH / LH issue in the OF and he should be available for around $5M, which would still allow Boston to sign a closer like Colome and stay under the CBT threshold.
The whole “Puig’s a cancer” thing gets blown way out of proportion. He’s going to want to play his tail off this season to prove he’s worth a multi-year deal in 2022. I’d be happy to see him patrol multiple OF positions in Fenway. Verdugo is a natural CF anyways so it would still allow Duggie to play every day and Renfroe could slide back into the #4 OF spot, platooning with Benny when lefties are pitching.
Puig is the kind of player you defend when he’s on your team but are relieved when he leaves. Cancer or not, the bottom line is that he is not much of a ballplayer. Inconsistent at the plate with those weird reverse splits, a terrible baserunner, and a much-worse outfielder than his reputation. What good is a strong arm if you regularly throw to the wrong base, miss the cutoff man, and airmail throws over the base you’re throwing to? He also has little regard for defensive positioning and has been combative with teammates and coaches who try to help him in that regard. Him tearing up the defensive positioning card in George Lombard’s face was indefensible.
There also seemed to be a decline in what he was physically capable of doing as the Dodger portion of his career neared its end. I’m talking about lateral movement and speed that was evident earlier. Someone else mentioned the Mets should sign Puig and stick him in centerfield. He can’t play CF at all. There’s a lot to unpack when considering Puig for your team. Put it this way: The Cleveland Indians were desperate for outfielders but made little or no attempt to retain him. If a player can’t play for Terry Francona or Dave Roberts, then the player probably isn’t worth pursuing. And don’t forget the sexual assault charges that are hanging over his head.
Dude, this was pretty funny, and accurate. I enjoyed the read. It is a great Puig illustration.
Yea as a Dodger fan I was going to comment on Puig but Cey Hey covered it all pretty well
Ill just add my usual with Puig-
Hes fast but is a terrible baserunner – Thrown out 33% of career sb attempts (awful) Makes ton of baserunning mistakes as well
Hes so strong…yet his career high is 24 hrs
Hes got such an arm- Yet like Cey hey said hes constantly making bad throws/overthrows/wrong base
Hes so athletic- Yet hes not a good OF- Bad routes, etc etc etc-
And finally Cincy Cle and even LAD were all in need of a corner OF when he left….and never was asked to return even after a decent price was payed to obtain/ low AAV
Never got the allure this board had with him- Dodgers locker room got a lot closer when he left (Prolly not all him ofc but Im sure it helped)
I remember all too well the stories in LA newspapers about how Trout and Puig were going to be the next generation of superstars. THAT is how highly regarded Puig was as a rookie. He just never built on that, whether it was a work ethic issue or a cap on his talent, dunno.
Meanwhile, Trout grew into Trout.
Same as Bauer; too much drama.
Puig should go back to Cuba
Why?
Puig could be huge in Asia.
Is Asia big enough for his attitude and ego?
Angels are a decent fit. Adell starts in aaa, Puig and Shebler platoon until he comes back up, then he becomes a pinch runner/defensive replacement
angels have plenty options in the team that can cover rf temporarily.
I don’t understand Puig was all ready to be a Brave why can’t he be one this year on an even cheaper contract than he woulda got last year.
Please no. I don’t even know why they went after him last yr as his personality doesn’t fit the clubhouse in Atlanta at all.
If he’s putting up numbers like we know he can you wouldn’t be saying that!
He hasn’t put up the kind of numbers that make you ignore everything else since 2014. Do we really know he can still do that?
He can put up numbers? When did he do that?
I Agree Puig and Bauer have too much baggage for Atlanta
Wouldn’t shock me to see Puig as a brave… but I hope we stay away considering he was out all 2020.
Now I’d love the Braves to go get JT and Frazier somehow ….
The Royals would be a good team for Puig. A great Baseball city and beautiful ballpark, also could be a dark horse contender
KC, just say no.
Texas should sign him. They need a RH OF bat and he could be flipped if he does well enough.
I agree. There would literally be no risk here for the Rangers. He could provide some protection slotted between Gallo and Lowe.
Puig is a below average player that no one wanted last year and doesn’t appear to have many suitors now, if any. Why then would anyone possibly trade for him mid-season? Why count on him doing something incredibly unlikely like suddenly out of nowhere become a valuable commodity?
We will sign with Detroit right before the end of Spring training
Does Yoenis Céspedes still play baseball?
I think he’s done playing the guy flat out quit on the Mets.
I wouldn’t mind having Puig as DH/OF for the White Sox for a season.
Yasiel Puig has been on the White Sox radar on and off for much of his MLB career which is only ‘natural’ since he’s Cuban. They tried a few times to snag him away from the Dodgers but a trade never materialized. The front office met with him early last offseason when he was a free agent but apparently his asking price was too high and they traded for Nomar Mazara instead. In hindsight, that was a mistake by the White Sox. Meanwhile Puig never signed a FA contract with any team until last summer when an agreed upon deal with the Braves was never finalized due to his positive COVID-19 test.
Ideally, the White Sox would put a finishing touch on their 2021 lineup by adding a versatile DH who can man an outfield corner, hits left-handed and can be signed to a one-year contract. Even with the earlier offseason addition of left-handed hitting Adam Eaton to fill their hole in RF, the White Sox batting order still leans heavily right-handed. The only other lefty bat in their everyday lineup aside from Eaton would be switch-hitting 3B Yoan Moncada and C Yasmani Grandal. The White Sox don’t want to invest too many dollars or years in a DH with top hitting prospect Andrew Vaughn potentially ready to make his MLB debut at some point this season. Vaughn would primarily DH and also backup Jose Abreu at 1B if he’s promoted.
That said, Vaughn hasn’t had an official at bat since late 2019 or above A+ Winston-Salem due to the pandemic that cancelled the 2020 minor league season. He was impressive in spring training last year before it was cancelled and by all accounts impressed at the White Sox alternate site last summer. Still in all we are talking mostly batting practice and exhibition game PA’s since 2019 at A+ ball. More seasoning at AAA might not only be better for Vaughn’s development but also for a White Sox team bent on contending for a World Series title in 2021.
The White Sox can still add a versatile lefty bat in free agency like Joc Pederson or via a trade like Andrew Benintendi, each of whom have also been past targets by the front office. However, each of those players will come with longer contracts than one year. Pederson will likely sign a two or three year deal while Benintendi still has two more years of team control. The latter would also cost the White Sox some MLB or MLB ready capital in a trade.
Recent rumors have also had the White Sox in contact with 40-year old slugging DH Nelson Cruz. Like Puig, Cruz hits right-handed. The latter also has a far better recent track record at the dish than Puig, Pederson or Benintendi, even at 40. Despite his advanced age, Cruz is still seeking a two-year contract, something that may be more realistic if he winds up with more suitors which would happen if and when the DH is approved for the NL in the coming days or weeks. With that likelihood, Puig just might be the best option for the White Sox.
Of the four targets mentioned, Puig would be the only one available on a one-year deal, likely at the lowest AAV but with plenty of incentives…a make-good contract setting him up for a better one next offseason. Puig also offers better defensive ability with his athleticism and a cannon arm that plays in RF. He could spell Eaton in RF versus LHP, and play LF versus RHP which would push defensively challenged and injury prone slugger Eloy Jimenez into more of a DH role where he is better suited. Puig would not only improve the White Sox batting order in 2021 but also their outfield defense with Jimenez getting more PA’s at DH. It would also push elite defensive OF Adam Engel into the role of the White Sox #5 outfielder instead of their #4.
Engel would be the White Sox primary backup and insurance policy for CF Luis Robert. He would also be the late inning defensive replacement for Jimenez in LF when Puig starts in RF versus southpaws. Some White Sox fans are sold on Engel’s’ improved offense in 2019 and 2020. I’m less convinced since his positive numbers have come mostly in a platoon role with nice splits versus LHP. He hasn’t shown much ability against RHP and he also lacks plate discipline with a low contact bat that seldom walks. Puig has demonstrated far superior offensive skills versus lefties and righties alike. His presence in the batting order would serve to enhance it. Engel is not scaring too many pitchers or offering much if any protection for his own mates in the batting order. His presence on the bench with 80 grade speed as a pinch runner along with a plus glove as a late game defensive replacement is another matter altogether.
Nice thesis.
You write epistles, as well? I flunked the Evelyn Wood speed-reading class, so had to pass on reading what you wrote. Anything more than two paragraphs is a waste.
Interesting
Yep. Every White Sox fan wants more in the outfield than Eaton. Once you get to talking about what Engel can bring I’m out.
You’ll hate it.
You forgot that Stanton is an outfielder too. He’s actually a really good one if he could just stay on the field…
The Yankees won’t play him much in the OF they want to keep him healthy most of the time.
Stanton sucks.
Stanton is one of the best players in MLB when healthy. You are obviously are speaking emotionally and not based on any factual premise.
Stanton’s ability to stay healthy has sucked, I agree. But when he’s healthy, he’s a good defender, and a great hitter, ala MVP …….?
Too many folks mistake his injury issues for hitting issues. His OPS the past two years has been .894 & .887. For at least 1-2 seasons, he can still be force in the middle of the lineup.
As a RS fan, I am glad he is on the NYY, but it would surprise me at all to see him hit 35 HRs.
My wifes a good cook too if I could ever get her in the kitchen (* stomach aches)
I don’t see a fit with right-handed hitting OF Yasiel Puig and the Yankees. The Bronx Bombers not only have a glut of OF’s, they also have a batting order made up of almost all right-handed hitters. On most days the only left-handed bat in their lineup is switch-hitting CF Aaron Hicks.
Puig was a reverse split guy
Puig isn’t the first right-handed hitter to have better splits against like pitching. Right-handed hitters, like all batters face more RHP than LHP. That said, Puig still holds a respectable enough .762 OPS versus southpaws in much fewer PA’s (934) compared to his .845 OPS versus righties in more PA’s (2442). This would play even better for his potential addition to a White Sox lineup that mashed LHP (14-0) but struggled with RHP last season with a batting order that leans heavily right-handed.
Theoretically Puig’s somewhat minimal reverse splits might provide a slight benefit to the Yankees batting order but not on a par to a lefty hitting corner like Joc Pederson who absolutely crushes RHP but is so bad versus southpaws that he needs to be in a strict outfield platoon. The Yankees glut of right-handed hitting OF’s along with DH Giancarlo Stanton wouldn’t provide Puig with the same opportunity he might get with the White Sox. Pederson on the other hand could fill a part time platoon role as a lefty masher with his power bat available off the bench when a southpaw starts a game. I believe rumors of NY adding any outfielder this offseason, be it Puig or Pederson, will be moot when they ultimately re-sign career Yankee Brett Gardner ahead of spring training.
Oddly enough, Puig has a near identical OBP versus RHP (.350) and LHP (.343). He draws a greater percentage of walks versus southpaws and also has been intentionally walked more time vs southpaws (11) than right-handed pitching (10) despite the huge differential in his PA’s. Apparently opposing pitchers and managers didn’t get the memo regarding Puig’s reverse splits. lol
762 Ops vs lefties is a 3 mill a yr player
Theres nothing to see behind this curtain
Hes an over valued player bc common folk give him name recognition. MLB execs were not fooled
Yasiel Puig has an .845 OPS versus RHP. How much is that worth considering how many more pitchers throw from the right side? Puig has an .823 career OPS along with a 122 OPS+. Clearly his .762 OPS vs LHP hasn’t dragged his career OPS numbers down substantially, hence my argument that his reverse splits are minimal.
One of the White Sox few remaining question marks ahead of spring training is how they address their DH role for the 2021 season. It was one of the few holes in their 2020 batting order thanks to the struggles of Edwin Encarnacion. It’s widely believed that top hitting prospect, 1B Andrew Vaughn might fill that role sometime in 2021 with Jose Abreu entrenched at the same position. Vaughn will likely begin the season at AAA Charlotte since he’s never had an official PA above A+ ball, that back in 2019 due to the lack of a minor league season in 2020. Because of his potential promotion later this season, the speculation is that the White Sox would consider adding a veteran hitter on a short term contract to help fill the DH role, one versatile enough to play another position should Vaughn make his MLB debut in 2021.
With the starting infield set, the idea was to add a corner outfielder who they might be able to mix and match as a DH along with LF Eloy Jimenez, one who might also share time in RF with Adam Eaton. The thinking also had that new bat likely being a left-handed hitter with the White Sox lineup leaning heavily right-handed, one that struggled versus RHP in 2020.
Puig would be a right-handed hitting option who could help the White Sox lineup versus RHP because of his .845 OPS against them. Puig and Eaton are also substantially better defenders than Jimenez which would give manager Tony La Russa the option of using the latter more at DH. Puig’s .762 OPS versus LHP is also better than left-handed hitting Eaton’s .695 OPS versus LHP, hence the notion of having Puig in RF and Jimenez in LF when a southpaw starts.
Is there the least little shred of factual basis of a Puig to the Yankees connection or is that 100% pure fictitious speculation?
I’m going with “100% pure fictitious speculation”. I read something someplace else listing the NYY, the RS & LAD as interested parties. All three have three outfielders. Any of them could trade one of their OFs, but currently, none have room.
Further, Puig would likely want a guaranteed starting spot.
I think this is just an agent story Bowden planted.
Seems unlikely although I can see them checking in if they’re considering trading Frazier for a pitcher. Even then, a more likely target would be Pederson, allowing them to add a lefty bat.
I need to see Puig with Greinke again
i love Zack and if the Pig pissed him off to the extent he felt compelled to throw his gear out in the streets of Chicago that’s good enough for me. team chemistry aside i saw maybe 3 months of a focused Puig at the plate outside of his first year. I always thought he was above average in right field but time has to be slowing him down. maybe the year off changed his attitude…quack
Imagine what it took to have Zack do that
I was glad the day Puig left as fun as a highlight tape as he had compiled with us the in-between was just not worth it
Seriously how often is Jim Bowden right? Sometimes it just seems like he throws stuff out there for reactions.
Can’t see Puig as a Royal for either side of the coin. Puig has had his character issues and the Royals/Dayton Moore and very big on character. Puig would likely be a part-time player on the Royals and there may be other opportunities to play more and if not, part-time player on a team who has a solid chance at the postseason would seem rather more attractive.
If there is truly going to be a minor league season this year I could see the Orioles in on both of these players. Puig or Nick M would be a good fit for the OF. Stewart and company can use almost a full year in the minor’s since there was not one in 2020.
He’s just not.
Earlier this off-season, Puig was saying the right things about listening to coaches on positioning and conditioning. He was demonstrating some humility for once. Maybe he’s just saying stuff to get a job, or maybe he’s actually been humbled and has wised up. I guess we’ll find out in March/April.
I still don’t want him on the Braves.
“Expert Insider” Jim Bowden. Hysterical. Dude is never right and pulls stuff out of thin air. Bowden guaranteed Stanton to Dodgers, Ohtani and Josh Bell to Yankees. He’s a clown.
I think Bowden also said that Arenado would be a Dodger by Christmas 2020. That didn’t happen either.
He’s a bit of a head case isn’t he…..
There is a reason Jim Bowden hasn’t been a GM for a long time…
Read any article about Puig’s time with the Dodgers. His ability isn’t worth the trouble he brings to a team.
Puig is not Cashman’s type of player. He’s seen up close more than a few times how players with personalities like Puig can become a massive headache in NY. I’m sure there may have been a brief phone call, errr Zoom call, as part of due diligence, but personality wise and contract wise, Puig and the Yankees are not a fit.
Reports of NY’s interest in Puig has always been highly questionable for me. Can he succeed in NYC? Not sure. He strikes me as an eccentric dude so he’s not everyone’s flavor as the media loves to portray him. Anyway, I’m almost certain Puig is looking for an everyday job where he can rebuild his value to land a last chance big guaranteed contract as he’s going to be on the wrong side of 30.
Yes, LER, as usual, you illustrate accurately and succinctly why NY is probably not a good fit for Puig. I think you’re 3-for-3 regarding the reasons on why, but I’d like to add, I don’t believe NY could utilize him at this juncture; unless they use Frazier/Tauchman for a trade. I think Heyman actually has this correct – NY is out on Puig.
Where’s the mystery team?!!!
Inb4 he never plays in MLB again
puig needs to go to st louis and shake the clubhouse up
I think Puig should definitely get a decent contract this offseason… or rather… I think that he deserves to. Just because he didn’t play last year during Covid doesn’t mean that he all of a sudden forgot how to hit or somehow because less of a player in that time. I felt like he kind of got screwed over last year not getting any offers until finally getting one from the Braves that wound up falling through because he tested positive for Covid. In my opinion he’s still a really viable Major League caliber outfielder and someone who without a doubt deserves a chance to start and prove himself next season in the majors. Whether that means a 1-year “show-me” contract or what… I definitely think he has more left in the tank and has the potential to be an offensive difference maker for whomever winds up signing him. Assuming the rumors of the Red Sox interest in Ozuna is overblown and they don’t wind up signing him… I wouldn’t mind seeing the Sox give Puig a shot. It could work out for both sides. As the Red Sox are in a position where they could be competitive IF their core comes back healthy and productive. But they also have a lot of questions and guys that really need to rebound… either from injury (erod, sale, etc) or production wise (Martinez, Benintendi, etc) so adding another guy with Puig’s upside and the obvious motivation for him to prove himself seems like a good match that could benefit both sides. And at the very least… he’s an entertaining player and the Sox could definitely use that.
This is a slow moving free agent market, so Puig may eventually find a home somewhere. But he may also be paying for his past behavior and the economic changes brought about by COVID-19. There are going to be a sizable group of veterans who go unsigned this year and Puig may yet again be one of them.
Rangers need to add Puig at perhaps 1/5 with the option of 1/7 for 22. Then add Nunez to back up at 1b/3/b,d/h and add at least 1 of Archer, Williams, Folty, or Walker to fill out the rotation. Perhaps add Kela and McGee to BP for the right price.. If they choose to trade Gallo and hope this doesn’t happen then they need Pederson. Give Odor away for a bag of popcorn.
I’m surprised that Puig is on the Marlins radar. I wonder how the internal conversations between the front office and Mattingly are when the Puig topic comes up?
Luigi searching for a team with a psychiatrist and a rubber room.
Puig
You had it right the first time.
Old Spanky the perv is not going to get a contract anytime soon.