Despite sitting out all of last season, outfielder Yasiel Puig looks as if he could be an interesting and inexpensive pickup for someone this winter. The problem is that no one seems to be aggressively pursuing Puig. The Royals, Marlins and Yankees have all been connected to Puig in recent weeks, but none of them are going after him, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports. Puig, who turned 30 in December, was a standout with the Dodgers earlier in his career, but he endured a mediocre 2019 between the Reds and Indians and sat on the open market for all of last year. While Puig did appear to have a deal with the Braves in the summer, that collapsed when he tested positive for COVID-19 in mid-July.
- The Phillies have shown interest in a pair of utility players – Marwin Gonzalez (previously reported) and Brad Miller – as well as outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, according to Heyman. The division-rival Mets are also considering Gonzalez, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com relays. Gonzalez and Miller are fits just about anywhere because of their histories of combining respectable offense with defensive versatility, whereas the Phillies and other NL teams look like an imperfect match for Choo. Not only is he 38 years old, but Choo has struggled as a defender for most of his career.
- Four to five teams are in the mix for middle infielder/outfielder Dee Strange-Gordon, and he could make a decision on his next club by week’s end, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com tweets. The Red Sox were interested in Strange-Gordon earlier this offseason, but they’re likely out of the running after signing fellow infielder/outfielder Enrique Hernandez, per Cotillo. The Reds are reportedly one of the teams in on the 32-year-old speedster, who’s a free agent at an inopportune time after three consecutive dismal seasons with the Mariners.
- Veteran reliever Joakim Soria agreed to join the Diamondbacks for a $3.5MM guarantee Wednesday, but he turned down bigger offers from elsewhere to do so, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. The 36-year-old right-hander, a two-time All-Star who turned in his latest solid season with the Athletics in 2020, is in line to close for Arizona.
Bring Bamboo Brad home!
I’m with you… Being home the bamboo. Left handed bat with pop and flexible defense.
Come on Chaim let’s go get Puig
Yeah, they can’t really go into the season with Renfroe and Benny both in full time does, right? I keep waiting for them to sign someone.
Puig on yankees would be great just to see him implode and destroy yankees lockeroom
Teams could be hesitant about Puig due to his lack of discipline, in the Covid environment.
Funny. The guy is a great post season bat like Turner. The Dodgers are dumping their clutch players for knuckleheads. The Yankees need pitching not hitting.
No thanks the Yankees already have that in Gary Sanchez. I doubt they would trust Puig with Boone. The Phillies should take a flyer on him. If there’s anyone that can cure his attitude problem it would be Girardi. Maybe Bob Melvin could as well but they did just get rid of their own headache in Davis. Plus Puig would have to agree to get paid in food stamps to get a contract from them. Somebody should take a shot on him though. Players with something to prove and a chip on their shoulder seem to have a career year with pillow contracts. He could be the next Cespedes for somebody. Remember when he first got to the Mets? Man he was a beast.
Puig to the Asia leagues!
Miller is a great platoon player. He’s crushed right-handers the last 2 seasons. Plus he has over 100 innings played at every position except for right field, catcher and pitcher.
Gordon has always got the shaft. it’s like every team that’s had him, soon wanted him gone.. LA, Miami, then Seattle and he was decent with the glove, even when forced into CF. The guy hits, is as fast as anyone. never understood why all those teams wanted him gone, i used to love watching him when with Miami and Seattle, 2 teams like to see.
4 of the 6 years with those two clubs he had an ops south of .700, and last season it dipped below .500. The two years it was over .700 were .716 four years ago and .776 six years ago.
He has decent averages here and there, but with absolutely no pop and over the past 3 years his OBP is .300. Why would a team pay him FA dollars when you get better performance out of a replacement level rookie?
Why would a team pay Gordon with such a low OPS? Score 100 runs, steal 40 bases. Play 2b, SS and center. Late inning double switch guy, 4th outfielder, fill in for weeks at a time if someone gets injured. He’s still only 32 and can win games with his legs. Forget batting average and slugging with a guy like this. He’s a big piece for a contending team even if he’s not starting.
To put it lightly he’s been a sub par hitter his whole career outside of his first season with the Marlins in 2015. He’s also not very good defensively and doesn’t get on base enough to make full use of his speed. He’s a good guy who seems to be well liked everywhere he plays but that only gets you so far
Gordon seems like the poster child for not relying on batting average to evaluate a player’s hitting. Even if he does have a decent BAA, he rarely walks which keeps his OBP low. And he shows very little power, which makes the hits that does get less valuable.
I suppose his speed can get him to 2nd base after some of his singles, but teams have become less enthusiastic about stealing bases in general and have to be worried that Gordon’s abilities in that area will drop as he ages.
Johnsilver- I can assure you, Dee did not get shafted by Seattle, he got exactly what he deserved: a disappointed fan base. I cant speak for the other teams, but I watched nearly every single game of his in a Seattle uniform. He was a total letdown. Tbh, imo it felt like Chone Figgins 2.0 -A disaster.
His defense was terrible when we switched him to CF, he was a rally killer who could never take a walk, he no longer could stretch out infield hits and his SB totals dropped off dramatically. He’s still a decent defender in his natural 2B position but thats it. Its no wonder Seattle couldn’t trade him- and they tried!
I’m glad to see the back of him.
Gordon was bad with the Dodgers. He is fast but he isn’t a good base runner. His defense at shortstop was abysmal…one of the worst in the league when he was with the Dodgers. His weak arm was better suited for second base, and he did better at that position with Miami, but was only really productive when he was on PEDs, and regressed pretty much immediately after he got caught and suspended for using them. He has generally been a big disappointment his entire career. Personally, I was very happy when the Dodgers traded him. He was basically just a liability on both offense and defense. Quite frankly, there is no mystery about why teams get rid of him.
I totally agree with John Silver. Dee is one of the most exciting players in baseball–great defensively as well as exciting offensively.. When he’s struggled it’s largely been because he’s played through injuries. He could help a great many teams..
I’d like to see Reds get Dee Gordon. I think he’d be suitable at SS for now till Garcia is ready.
Sounds like Puig will be batting cleanup for one of those Mexican league teams.
I am 12
I need a refill
I’d like to see the Mets make a trade offer for Kiermaier.
Rays are in heat to move KK and get his salary off the books, plus they have replacements waiting in the wings. Won’t take much at all to get him.
It should take less than nothing to get him, with his contract he has negative value. Either Tampa would have to package him with something of value or accept a contract (or part of a contract back- maybe Familia plus part of his salary for KK.
This is exactly the type of movie NYM should make. Use $$ to fill a need (CF) and at the same time help the farm system by effectively buying a prospect or two. The art to the deal is getting a prospect that will be a contributor at the MLB level during their window of contention. Alternatively one that can part of a trade package to get MLB contributor during the window
This is exactly what I thought the Mets should have done. Get players who are decent (or better), but overpaid, and pick up solid prospects (not expecting anyone elite this way) in exchange for taking the entire contract.
Besides helping load up a mediocre (or worse) farm system, it would improve the major league club. And, most players who are now overpaid are likely down to only a couple of years left on their contracts. Which would also make sense for the Mets, because for a roster that right now I would describe as more good than great, they are going to get very expensive very quickly- as in, just bringing back this years team next year is going to put them over 250 million per.
Miller really can’t play any position well enough to be a regular at it on a contending team; like most of his type, he’s fairly hideous everywhere. BUT the man can hit, and has a great attitude, and willingly does anything. As long as you don’t have to run him out there consistently, he’s a worthwhile piece of the puzzle.
Puig to the Cards… They are looking for more OF help and he can be had super cheap. Cannon for an arm and a good bat. He needs an organization that he isn’t the “potential” star… The Cards have a few stars lol
The Cardinals got rid of Fowler because they have more than enough competition in the OF.
I agree they don’t need him but it wouldn’t hurt my feelings to see them take a flier on him. Mo is notorious for shopping in the bargain bin late in the season, this is one I wouldn’t be mad at.
It always feels like the Cards have the problem of just too many OFs. Not a bad problem, just seems like OF is always lineup locked and they don’t need any extra bodies out there.
Not trying to be mean, but I use to take anything Nightengale said with a grain of salt. After yesterday, he’s just making up stories now.
He’s been making up stories for some time.
I wonder if Altanta refused to sign him not only because he was Covid positive, but that he probably was partying and ignoring the covid rules. It doesnt matter ur beliefs if ur a professional athlete you have to follow the guidelines.
The guy just doesnt listen, hes got all the talent in the world. Why would you want him on ur team?
Ace3? You make up stuff. Then you use it as part of your wrap up. You sound like our ex.
I think Puig’s personal situation is just too damn hot!
erm DD why are you looking at more bats?
Do you know how to use English?
Puig for 2/yr is wayyyyy better than Fowler. Cmon on platypus
There is only one “y” in that word. Stop typing like a 12 year-old girl.
That’s coming from a guy with “lolz” in his username. You can’t make this stuff up, folks!
Don’t encourage him.
I think we should curtail away from seeing Heyman as a reliable source. Or one with much merit. As much as Bauer’s announcement video was quite a cringe watch, he expressed that he wanted to be the one to let it be known. Just to have Jonny boy rush to send a tweet before him, for what? Dude’s a clown. .
Yep…
Reality is that we will never know if B. Nightengale would’ve guessed right because Trevor is so obstinate he would change his decision for the sole purpose of announcing it himself. It’s like the chicken or the egg concept.
So, Nightengale flips a coin and announces first only to be first, not right; while Heyman makes up news so he can later write news stories about how the non-news he devised as news is no longer in play.
Two sides of the same $3 bill.
Can you really say that you are a free agent at an inopportune time after THREE bad years? Doesn’t that just make you bad?
(And, from what I saw, he was only horrific last year; more like pretty mediocre for four years before that)
Heyman says the Yankees were connected to Puig recently – uh, yeah, but the one who connected Puig to the Yankees? Heyman…. hm, news stories from your own {half-baked} news stories! Brilliant!
You don’t actually have any idea what you are talking about.
Heyman is fake news, dude just makes up stories out of nowhere and can’t admit when he was wrong.
Dodgers looking for a RH bat.LA fans like Puig & it sounds like the price is rt.
Trust me, Dodger fans do not want to see Puig back in Los Angeles. I don’t know who your source is regarding the Dodgers fan base, but you should look to upgrade.
Nightengale a clown
Soria! He was amazing in Oakland! We have a solid young group of guys to replace Joakim in the A’s bullpen but we will still miss him! Good luck in Arizona!
I’d like to see the Phillies sign Gonzo.. Paxton or Odorizzi too… and 1 more reliever, perhaps Rosenthal? Well.. there’s my wish list.
cant sign all three and stay under the cap
Certainly true about the tax. Maybe Dombrowski can make it happen. 2 million for Marwin, 5-6 million for Rosenthal (compare him to Colome who has had a better 3 seasons and got 5 million/with an option) and I would try and add T. Walker for 4 million. That would put us right up against the Tax, maybe 1 million over. After that They would have to trade someone, Kingery, Vince Velasquez, Quinn. If you can move Kingery or VV then you can save 4 million and be back under the tax. I wouldn’t mind Puig or Cespedes, if the DH is in for 2021. Puig can also play the OF, when not DH-ing
Hey.. dis you hear the Cards got Arenado lol
Puig is a head case. That’s why teams stay away from him despite having talent.
had no idea. thanks man.
The Phillies need a left handed bench bat that can spell Cutch in LF, that’s why they’re interested in Choo. Brad Miller was a lot of fun during his stint with the Phillies at the end of 2018. Local media loved talking to him with his superstitions. He displayed some serious power while he was here too.
Strange-Gordon started to be mediocre as soon as he got caught for PED use, you have to wonder for how long he’s been taking them before that…
No, you don’t have to wonder.
Strange….
After getting that deal for Bauer, I am curious to see what Rachel Luba can get for Puig. I think Puig is her only other baseball client with major league experience.
Luba also represents Mike Clevinger. I don’t know if she has any other clients though.
I just remembered that MLBTR has an agency database. They do only have Buaer and Puig listed as Luba Sports clients.
They show Clevinger as repped by ACES (but they also list him as being on the Indians, so the database is presumably out of date). I couldn’t find anything on Google to confirm one way or the other.
And responding to a post below, they have Cargo listed as a Mariners player represented by Boras. But Google did show me that he signed with Luba a couple months ago.
It also looks like Derek Deitrich might be a Luba Sports client.
I’m pretty sure I remember reading an article about Clevinger signing with Luba, though I can’t find anything on Google right now(I also can’t find anything regarding him being with ACES). He is really good friends with Bauer and he does follow Luba on Instagram though, so it’s definitely possible.
Luba only started representing players in 2019, so it is definitely possible that
the MLBTR database is out of date.
I was wondering the same thing and went to Luba Sports site to look for a client list and the site is pretty bare bones.
Trevor Bauer was Rachel Luba’s first client with her new agency, in 2019. Yasiel Puig joined last November as her second MLB player. I notified Baseball Reference recently and they updated their info. Spotrac also shows Puig as her client. I can’t find any information regarding Mike Clevinger switching over to her agency as we post. She does have some MLB coaches along with a number of professional women softball players among her clients.
White Sox should sign Puig to a one year deal.
Cargo is or was another client (not sure what the status there is haven’t heard much for a while)
OK I’m calling it. Puig never plays in MLB again
I think a lot of us called that a while ago.
You should talk about the Realmuto trade for the 5,000 time.
Hey look, it’s LOLZMETS!
Calling it now, if the DH officials comes to the NL, wouldn’t be shocked to see the Braves grab puig.. just watch out for it. Interesting 1 year deal type player for us.
The Braves should pass. I saw enough of Puig as a Dodger fan to know he’s not as good as some fans think he is. Weird left-right splits at the plate. Horrific baserunner. Shaky defense with missed cutoff men. overthrown bases, and a disregard for positioning (he tore up a positioning card in George Lombard’s face). He also has a sexual assault case filed in October that hasn’t been resolved yet. It would be better to sign Duvall or acquire a 3B and stick Riley in the spot that isn’t filled. Or am I overrating Riley?
So…”Puig looks as if he could be an interesting and inexpensive pickup for someone.,” but the problem is that no one wants him…got it.
I could see the Phillies signing either Gonzales or Miller but Choo? That makes no sense at all.
Choo in Philly? Do they realize there is gonna be no DH?
Anyways, I sure hope Choo doesn’t go to Philly… I wish Texas could keep him one more year and send him off in front of fans, but we have a logjam at DH right now and he dang sure ain’t gonna play the OF. He’s such a class act, and one of my all time favs, but it’s just inconceivable to see him coming back…
Just don’t go to Philly. Please.
Phillies have more pressing needs (SP, CF).
If they use Choo as either of those two things they’re screwed lol. He *cannot* play the OF. At all. He is a full time DH. I can’t stress that enough. He *CANNOT* play the OF. He needs to go to an A.L team for his sake and the team’s sake because even just coming in for one game to play the OF and give – say – McCutchen a break; they might be at risk of losing that game just by sticking him in the OF. He is that bad. I love the guy, and he’s one of my all time favorites, but you gotta know your role and his role isn’t as an OFer.
No one wanted Puig last year and I don’t see any reason to think that’s changed. If anything he’s just one year older.
He’s an odd fit for any team that has a need in the OF. Marlins make the most sense, really, but he’ll have to take a one-year deal for $5M or less.
I hope whoever signs Gordon actually lets him run. If he’s utilized on a part-time basis, I think it’d keep him fresh enough to be an impact on the bases.
Last offseason the White Sox where looking for a RF and it seems there choice came down to FA Yasiel Puig and a trade for Nomar Mazara. They chose Mazara and we know how well that turned out.
This offseason they signed FA and former White Sox Adam Eaton to be their primary RF but had reportedly also been seeking a short term OF/DH to supplement Eloy Jimenez and perhaps Eaton until 1B/DH Andrew Vaughn was deemed ready for prime time PA’s. Unless they are still considering the trade market for a player like Andrew Benintendi, their choices may again come down to Puig and Mazara who are among the few remaining FA’s on the market this offseason. Or they could just pass and use internal options until Vaughn is ready.
Would have rather the angels signed puig to a one year 2 mil dollar deal than trading for Fowler
Angels are only paying Fowler 1.7 million.
The 300k more would be worth it to take a flier on puig vs Fowler
I hope whoever signs Gordon actually lets him run. If he’s utilized on a part-time basis, I think it’d keep him fresh enough to be an impact on the bases still.
As the earth rotates so does the revolving door for closers in Arizona.
“Rotates?” What’s all this then? Everyone knows the earth is flat and stationary, and that big ball of fire keeps moving around it, trying to find a way in.
The Red Sox and Bloom always check up on everyone and never pull the trigger. Bloom is a professional tire kicker ! The way this team looks this year, they will be lucky to finish 4th. Way to go Bloom and the Small Market Tampa Bay Red Sox
I would accept Brad Miller coming back to Phil’s in a bench roll. He had 11 homers for them, just a couple years ago. Plus, if need be you could plug him in at left, 3rd, ss, 2nd, or 1st. Much like Marwin Gonzalez. Would come cheaper.,than Marwin. And, why the he’ll are the Phil’s holding on to Roman Quinn? He can’t hit! You give a roster spot up, for a pinch runner, defensive replacement? Makes no sense.
Miller was a butcher at SS even years ago. Marwin can play several positions. Brad is a “utility” guy cuz he stinks equally everywhere other than short, where he’s an abomination. He moved around early cuz he had no position and now folks look at him and go, hey look, he plays multiple positions. He’s just awful in the field but you might be able to hide him in left or at second.
Choo at this juncture in his career needs to stay in the A.L. Phil’s might have been optimistic, that there be an International DH, this year. Even, with that said, I’d resign Jay Bruce.
Phil’s could pick up some cash, if they could unload Odubal Herrera’s contract, on some desperate team…
Yankees should sign him over Gardner anyway. Gimme a strong arm with pop and someone who actually steals bases
Chaim wants to build a whole roster of utility players.
Not sure if you know it but Boston is now in the “small Market” category. I know I know. Highest ticket prices, major TV contract, but we shop at Dollar General now. Cuz we are Tampa Bay north!! What a joke. Wouldn’t you increase your payroll by 50 mil for nobody? Great move during a pandemic to lure fans to watch
And why does my commments come up 3x when I post
Thank god! He’s a poison in the club house and not close to Yankee material.
The Yankees need some left hitting power. They have a short porch in RF and Hicks is the only constant from the port side. He gets hurt every year anyway. Why even look at Puig? Mr. Cashman needs to accept responsibility for handcuffing the budget and producing a roster that can’t make it through the playoffs. This team still lacks balance on offense, defense and pitching. It’s time for some new leadership in the GM position.
Such a good guy, surprised he’s not signed yet…