Three fits for Yasiel Puig when the MLB season resumes
The baseball career of Yasiel Puig has been quite the whirlwind. After once being on the path to stardom, Puig has been traded twice in the last two years and now finds himself without a team.
It wasn’t too long ago that Yasiel Puig launched a three-run blast in game four of the 2018 World Series seemingly putting the Dodgers back in the series on the way to a 2-2 series tie. Unfortunately for Puig and the Dodgers, the Dodgers blew their 4-0 lead and eventually lost the World Series four games to one.
The 2018 World Series would be the last time that Puig played for the Dodgers as he was traded in December of 2018 to the Cincinnati Reds in a blockbuster deal that also sent Matt Kemp and Alex Wood to the Reds.
Puig went on to play 100 games for the Reds, hitting 22 home runs and batting .252 before he was traded again to the Cleveland Indians.
Yasiel played well in 49 games with the Tribe as he slashed .297/.377/.423 and finished out his contract year in fine fashion. Ever since the season ended, however, things have not worked out in Yasiel’s favor.
Although some teams have shown interest, and reportedly even made an offer, Puig found himself without a team even before the season was postponed due to COVID-19.
At some point, whether it’s 2020 or 2021, baseball will resume and these are the three teams that would be a great fit for the “Wild Horse”.
Three Fits for Yasiel Puig
Miami Marlins
The Marlins’ have done a great job collecting young talent ever since Derek Jeter took over the reins of the franchise but they are still not quite there. The Marlins’ current depth chart has several veterans such as Matt Kemp, Corey Dickerson, Matt Joyce, and Jonathan Villar. While Brian Anderson and Garrett Cooper have turned into nice contributors, the Miami outfield is still lacking some punch.
Yasiel Puig would be a great fit for the Marlins for several different reasons. For once, Puig is still a solid player, overall he slugged 24 home runs in 2019 and posted an OPS of .785. On the Marlins he would easily become one of their lineup’s best hitters. Then there is the Miami factor. Miami is home to many Cubans and Puig even has a home in Miami. Marlins’ fans are in need of a jolt of excitement and Yasiel Puig would provide that.
While Marlins’ skipper Don Mattingly and Yasiel Puig had a few issues during their time together in Los Angeles, Puig would be an upgrade for the team so they should be able to make things work this time around. Puig is likely going to sign a one or two year deal so contractually speaking, he would fit nicely into the Marlins’ payroll even if he does become one of their highest-paid players.
Three Fits for Yasiel Puig
San Diego Padres
The Padres are seen as being close to becoming a National League playoff contender. In recent years they have added some quality sluggers such as Manny Machado and Tommy Pham. Combined with the up and coming talents like Fernando Tatis Jr., the Padres are no longer the laughing stock of the NL West. General Manager AJ Preller has tried unloading Wil Myers all winter and if he can finally get rid of his contract, there is an opening for Yasiel Puig.
The Padres’ starting outfield for 2020 figures to be Tommy Pham, Trent Grisham, and Wil Myers. The addition of Puig would bolster the Padres’ outfield both defensively and offensively. Not to mention Yasiel Puig is a fun player to watch and the Padres already have one exciting young player in Tatis Jr. If the Padres signed Yasiel Puig, they would suddenly become one of the more exciting teams to watch in Major League Baseball.
While the Padres aren’t quite as frugal as the Miami Marlins, they do typically have a payroll topping out around $140 million. Adding Puig would fit into the Padres’ budget and give Padre fans one more reason to be excited that baseball is back. Not to mention, Yasiel Puig should relish the chance to torment the Dodgers for trading him away at the end of 2018.
Three Fits for Yasiel Puig
Colorado Rockies
The third and final fit for Yasiel Puig is another National League West team. The Rockies’ lineup is full of serious firepower but one of the areas where they could use some help is in left field. The Rockies’ are currently slated to play Raimel Tapia and Ian Desmond in left field although they could use Desmond in centerfield. The rest of their outfield is legit with David Dahl and Charlie Blackmon both coming off a fine 2019 season.
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The Rockies’ have made headlines for the wrong reasons this year with Nolan Arenado expressing his frustration with the team and their lack of desire to compete. The addition of Puig would be a solid add for the Rockies and show Nolan that the Rockies are trying to compete when the season resumes. While Puig won’t fix all their problems, he would give the Rockies one of the best offensive outfields in baseball.
It wasn’t too long ago that the Rockies nearly ended the Dodgers’ division run in 2018 as they forced LA into a one-game playoff for the NL West division title. Coming off a down season, the Rockies are still in need of several upgrades and Yasiel Puig could be the first domino that gets them back onto a winning path.
Next. Cincinnati Reds: Team preview and prediction for 2020 season. dark
Yasiel Puig is one of the most enigmatic players in baseball, and it’s a shame he is not currently on a team. Whenever the great Vin Scully gives you a nickname, it means you have done something right and Yasiel Puig has earned just that. Now one team needs to get Puig back onto a big league roster and the three teams mentioned in this article should be the first to make that call.