Weekend BP: Yasiel Puig?

It feels a little bit weird to talk about baseball rumors and transactions, given that MLB is currently suspended due to the coronavirus. But there are baseball rumors and transactions to talk about, so onward we march.

There won’t be much to talk about in this vein over the next month, so cherish it. Here we go: The San Francisco Giants are reportedly on the short list of MLB teams interested in free agent outfielder Yasiel Puig. You likely remember Puig from such hits as Hitting a Lot of Home Runs Against the Giants While Wearing a Dodgers Jersey, and Yelling at Madison Bumgarner While Madison Bumgarner Yells at Him, and Pissing People Off Irrationally With His Majestic Bat Flips on Warning Track Flyouts.

That Puig. I love the guy. You love him too, unless you absolutely despise him, which is perfectly understandable. There’s no middle ground.

For one reason or five, Puig remained unsigned just two weeks from the scheduled start of the season. That’s a bit surprising for a 29 year old who as recently as 2018 had an OPS+ of 120.

But according to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, the Giants are interested. Here’s the report, courtesy of MLB Trade Rumors:

Puig did reportedly turn down a one-year, $10MM offer from a National League team in recent months, but it’s unclear which club presented that proposal to Puig. The belief, however, is that the Marlins made him an offer at some point, Jon Heyman of MLB Network said on the latest edition of the Big Time Baseball Podcast.

. . . Nevertheless, all hope isn’t necessarily lost for Puig, whom some teams are still considering, Heyman says. The Giants are among the clubs on the list, reports Heyman.

The article also notes that Heyman said the Giants and Puig were in talks in February, but those talks stalled when the team reunited with Hunter Pence.

It’s unclear what exactly made talks resume between the sides. It could be that Puig going unsigned for so long has lowered his price to where the Giants see him as a worthy investment. Or it could be the team not being overwhelmed by the performance of their outfielders in Spring Training.

San Francisco entered spring with only two outfield positions fully locked: Pence, and Mike Yastrzemski. Alex Dickerson seemed a likely third, but he’s been mediocre and is always an injury concern. Youngsters Steven Duggar, Jaylin Davis, Austin Slater, and Joe McCarthy have not forced the issue. Billy Hamilton has been Billy Hamilton. Only Darin Ruf has opened eyes, though in his defense he has really opened eyes.

The Giants certainly have plenty of Puig intel, as President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi and manager Gabe Kapler both had overlapping time with Puig while with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Perhaps they see some potential fixes to get him back on track following a down year in 2019.

I’m all for it, because A) Puig is highly entertaining, B) He’s an excellent bounce-back candidate who would have strong trade value if he plays well, C) Seeing Puig as a Giant face off against Bumgarner as a non-Giant would be great theater, and D) It ain’t my money.