Former major-league outfielder Yasiel Puig agreed to plead guilty to felony charges on Monday after lying to federal agents investigating an illegal gambling operation. It carries a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. Puig currently plays professionally in South Korea and will make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court on Tuesday. He played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians during a seven-year MLB career from 2013-19. Puig began placing bets on sporting events in May of 2019 through a third party who worked for an illegal gambling operation, but none of the bets were made on baseball.
Free-agent outfielder Yasiel Puighas denied claims in a lawsuit that he sexually assaulted a woman in 2018 and said that allegations have prevented him from being signed. The woman claiming she was sexually assaulted did not file a police report, and Puig hasn't been charged with a crime. Puig and his attorneys claim that he has evidence proving that he didn't commit any crime through text-message exchanges between the two. A number of teams have factored Puig's allegations and his declining play into their decision-making process when considering him as a free agent. "Nobody wants the headache," one front-office source told ESPN. Even if Puig is innocent, it doesn't appear that any teams are in a rush to sign him.
Major League Baseball investigators recently interviewed a woman who said free-agent outfielder Yasiel Puig sexually assaulted her in a Staples Center bathroom, but she hasn't taken further steps due to her desire to remain anonymous while awaiting further evidence to emerge, according to an MLB source. The 30-year-old Puig remains without a team with the start of the season just weeks away, and part of that reason is due to the allegation. The woman sued Puig last October but didn't file a police report, and Puig hasn't been charged with a crime. He has denied the allegations in a court filing. "Nobody wants the headache," a front-office source told ESPN. It remains to be seen what will come of these allegations, but it doesn't look good for a 30-year-old free agent trying to find work.
The Kansas City Royals are not in on free-agent outfielder Yasiel Puig. The three teams rumored to be interested in Puig -- the Miami Marlins, New York Yankees and Royals -- are not interested. It was reported earlier this offseason that Puig was generating interest, but his market must have cooled off. The 30-year-old power/speed threat intends to play in 2021 after initially signing with the Braves before the 2020 season, but he tested positive for COVID-19 last summer and the deal fell through. Puig didn't play at all last year, but he did hit 24 home runs and steal 19 bases in only 149 games with Cleveland and Cincinnati in 2019. The Cuban outfielder has had his differences with players and coaches, and that could be a reason for the lack of interest, but he could be an interesting late-round flier in deeper fantasy leagues if he lands with a team that will give him consistent playing time.
Yasiel Puig Tests Positive For COVID-19, Won't Join Braves
Yasiel Puig announced on Friday that he tested positive for COVID-19, and he won't be signing with the Atlanta Braves, according to major league sources. Atlanta never formally agreed to a deal with Puig earlier this week, but they were seriously considering it before his positive test. Puig will remain a free agent and the Braves could continue to look for additional help on offense, preferably a left-handed hitter off the bench. The Cuban outfielder said he's asymptomatic, though, so he could still land with another team in the near future and become fantasy relevant once again in mixed leagues for his power/speed combination. With Puig now out and Nick Markakis opting out in 2020, the biggest beneficiary for playing time in Atlanta's outfield will be Adam Duvall.
The Baltimore Orioles are interested in signing free-agent outfielder Yasiel Puig and have made at least one offer, according to a source. It probably has something to do with the fact that Anthony Santander and Dwight Smith Jr. have yet to arrive at summer camp, but Puig would be an upgrade to Baltimore's outfield regardless. Puig's power would also play very nicely at hitter-friendly Camden Yards and in the American League East. The 29-year-old would likely be an everyday player with the O's as well, which would make him an attractive fantasy outfielder after he hit 24 home runs and stole 19 bases in 2019 with the Reds and Indians. He could be a steal at his current 185 ADP if he lands in Baltimore. Stay tuned.
Free-agent outfielder Yasiel Puig is not close to signing a contract and is in no rush to do so with baseball currently suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic. Puig's focus is slowly turning toward the 2021 season with MLB in shutdown mode. If baseball is played and Puig signs with a team this year, he'll likely have to accept a one-year deal for far less money than he was seeking. Teams reportedly weren't willing to give the Cuban outfielder a multi-year offer over the winter. The Marlins were connected to Puig, but he turned down their offer because it wasn't up to his asking price, and he also didn't want the added pressure of playing around all the Cuban fans. The 29-year-old hit .267/.327/.458 with 24 home runs and 84 RBI with the Reds and Indians in 2019, and his power/speed combination will be interesting in the later rounds of deep mixed drafts if he ends up signing with a team before the 2020 season begins.
Rockies, White Sox The Front-Runners For Yasiel Puig
The Colorado Rockies and Chicago White Sox have emerged as the front-runners to sign outfielder Yasiel Puig. Puig is easily the biggest name left on the free-agent market, but he could have a home soon. Landing with either team would be enticing from a fantasy point of view, but the main question would be how much playing time would Puig receive? The often misunderstood outfielder from Cuba can certainly help any club with his speed and power at the plate and electric arm in the outfield. Both home parks for the Rockies and White Sox are great hitting environments, too, so Puig could excel in either location. The 29-year-old is a fine target in the middle rounds for his upside despite not having a home yet this spring.
The San Francisco Giants have interest in outfielder Yasiel Puig, according to sources. President of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi has familiarity with Puig from their time together with the Dodgers. The 29-year-old power-speed guy would have a good shot at regular playing time in San Francisco, but the pitcher-friendly environment in the bay wouldn't help Puig's numbers from a power perspective. In 555 at-bats between the Reds and Indians in 2019, Puig slashed .267/.327/.458 with 24 home runs and career highs in RBI (84) and stolen bases (19). The Cuban outfielder is definitely worth a flier in the later rounds for his power and speed, depending on where he winds up.
The Tampa Bay Rays have shown interest in outfielder Yasiel Puig, but it's unclear how serious their interest is. Puig played in 149 games with the Reds and Indians in 2019 and hit .267/.327/.458 with 24 home runs and set career highs in RBI (84) and stolen bases (19) in 555 at-bats. He's still on the right side of 30 and his mix of power and speed is enticing to real MLB teams and fantasy owners, but it's unclear exactly how he might fit in with an already crowded outfield picture in Tampa. The Rays already have Kevin Kiermaier, Austin Meadows, Hunter Renfroe and Yoshitomo Tsutsugo in their outfield, so Puig might be relegated to a part-time role if he were to sign with the Rays.
