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Yasiel Puig build of living the baseball world alight with his charisma and energy as a rookie with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013.
Seven years later, Puig is combating to create his potential serve into the vast leagues.
The 29-year-historical had been unsigned for the bulk of the 2019-20 MLB offseason sooner than reportedly reaching a contend with the Atlanta Braves in July. However, the agreement became as soon as called off after he examined certain for COVID-19. He remained unsigned throughout the 2020 season.
However, Puig is hoping 2021 will trace a up to date chapter. The dilapidated All-Indispensable person peaceable has the tools to assist a choice of golf equipment, and he’s already generating hobby on the commence market.
Here are the latest rumors enchanting Puig, dilapidated left-hander Jon Lester and celebrity Korean shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, moreover to predictions for where they’d perchance perchance land this winter.
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A brief look at Puig’s numbers would counsel he must absorb a extra profitable market than he has been given in the past.
Puig has an .822 OPS and 122 OPS+ for his profession. He has hit 132 homers and stolen shut to 80 bases in seven years in the bigs. He also has a cannon arm. Puig had three consecutive seasons with not lower than 23 homers and 15 steals between 2017 and 2019.
Upon closer examination, on the opposite hand, Puig’s significantly restricted market has an explanation. He became as soon as price 9.4 fWAR in his first two seasons, per FanGraphs. But Puig has been price ideal 8.4 fWAR mixed in his final five seasons. The Cuban celebrity also had a profession-excessive 133 strikeouts in 2019 and, as mentioned, did not play in 2020.
Mild, a pair of golf equipment are already showing hobby in Puig.
Designate Feinsand of MLB.com reported the Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox all absorb Puig “on their radar,” including varied teams would possibly possibly perchance perchance also very well be in the mix.
It’s some distance not a surprise to sight the O’s fervent again. Baltimore reportedly supplied Puig a deal serve in July. The Red Sox are also buying for outfield manufacturing given Jackie Bradley Jr. is a free agent and Andrew Benintendi is coming off disappointing seasons in serve-to-serve years.
But the Astros would possibly possibly perchance perchance also very well be the most effective match here. Three of Houston’s outfielders—George Springer, Michael Brantley and Josh Reddick—are free agents. The Astros are unlikely to re-effect all three because it would possibly possibly perchance perchance potentially take them over the plush tax threshold.
Primarily based totally on Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Houston and Brantley are attempting to procure a deal done, that would possibly be an illustration the workforce is able to transfer on from Springer. Certainly, dilapidated MLB reporter Peter Gammons famed Bradley, a middle fielder, is a “priority” for the Astros.
That acknowledged, the Red Sox would possibly be working to re-effect Bradley, as well. Houston would possibly possibly perchance perchance pivot to a energy bat in Puig, and presumably transfer Kyle Tucker to middle while slotting Brantley in left field.
Prediction: Puig signs with the Astros
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Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press
Lester just isn’t any longer the domineering presence he as soon as became as soon as in the mid-2010s and in his early years with the Chicago Cubs.
The 36-year-historical had a 4.46 ERA and gave up the most hits of any National League starting pitcher (205) in 2019. Lester then posted a 5.16 ERA and profession-worst 86 ERA+ in 12 starts this past year, ensuing in the Cubs making the evident decision to recall him out for $10 million in want to deliver a $25 million choice.
Mild, Lester is hurry to absorb a minute little bit of a market brooding regarding the shortage of quality starting pitching in this year’s free-agent class.
Jon Morosi of MLB Community reported the San Francisco Giants absorb hobby in signing Lester. Morosi famed present Giants standard supervisor Scott Harris became as soon as with the Cubs’ front deliver of business all over Lester’s time in Chicago, which would possibly perchance perchance display veil a pair of of the hobby.
But there are varied reasons Lester makes sense for the Giants. For starters, he’s practically completely going to take a less dear, one-year deal. That’s correct info for a San Francisco workforce hoping to assist its books trim for subsequent winter, when guys equivalent to Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt both change into free agents and the workforce has membership alternatives on Buster Posey and Johnny Cueto.
From an on-field standpoint, Lester’s trace of pitching would possibly possibly perchance perchance fare greater in Oracle Park. Lester has been giving up extra skim balls than standard while also struggling his perfect laborious contact rates in the every of the final two years, per FanGraphs. But laborious contact would possibly possibly perchance perchance also unprejudiced not be as unheard of a field at Oracle because it became as soon as at Wrigley Discipline, where the ball flies out of the yard in the summertime.
The Giants can withhold their future books obvious while also reckoning on Lester to eat innings in the center or serve quit of the rotation. It will be an excellent transfer.
However, a return to Chicago also makes sense. The Cubs would possibly be on the verge of substantial lineup adjustments. As well to Lester, moreover they lost Jose Quintana and Tyler Chatwood to free agency. Chicago figures to present starts to Alec Mills and Adbert Alzolay, nonetheless there are peaceable spots to absorb.
Except the Cubs are fully hellbent on starting over, it’s that it’s probably you’ll perchance perchance imagine to set up the Cubs bringing Lester serve on a rate-efficient, one-year deal.
Prediction: Lester re-signs with the Cubs
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Toru Takahashi/Associated Press
Although the Giants would snatch to assist future payroll obvious, moreover they want young assets to label around for the future. This would possibly possibly well perchance perchance create Kim the valid purpose.
The 25-year-historical infielder has been one of many perfect gamers in the Korean Baseball Organization since he became as soon as 19 years historical, and now he’s ready to create the jump to Predominant League Baseball.
Yonhap News’ Jeeho Yoo (h/t Morosi) reported the Kiwoom Heroes will post Kim on Wednesday, opening up a 30-day window for him to barter with MLB golf equipment. Morosi added the Toronto Blue Jays are one of many teams that “evaluated” Kim carefully sooner than the posting date.
Kim is hurry to generate heaps of hobby, and for correct reason. He is coming off a year all over which he hit 30 homers, stole 23 bases and posted a profession-excessive .921 OPS. Kim is also moderately young when put next with varied international stars who absorb made the jump.
Toronto’s hobby in Kim is slightly easy. Although the Blue Jays absorb Bo Bichette at shortstop, they are able to transfer Kim to shortstop and withhold Vladimir Guerrero Jr. But Ross Atkins is doubtless to prioritize pitching given Toronto already has a slightly deep solid of young and talented deliver gamers.
Alternatively, the Giants absorb a want for young and impactful bats in the lineup. Morosi reported in October that the Giants were opinion to be amongst the suitors for Kim, who would even be a pure change for Crawford when his contract expires on the quit of the 2021 season.
San Francisco would should always work around Evan Longoria on the contemporary corner. However, it’s that it’s probably you’ll perchance perchance imagine they’d perchance perchance experiment with Kim at 2d injurious and detect trades for Donovan Solano. Finally, Kim normally is a legitimate building block for the Giants.
Prediction: Kim signs with the Giants
All stats bought by Baseball Reference, except otherwise famed.
