The status of top remaining free agent Yasiel Puig remains up in the air as Spring Training baseball kicks off today. The mercurial and ever-entertaining pugilist got everyday at-bats in 2019 after a couple years of more judicious playing time with the Dodgers – but the results don’t have teams lined up with contract offers. Puig hit .267/.327/.458 across 611 plate appearances with the Reds and Indians with 24 home runs and 84 RBIs. Puig’s singular personality makes his on-field contributions just a part of the overall package, but even after a year of modest production (101 wRC+), Puig ought to be able to find a job somewhere. Latest reports have the White Sox and Rockies as potential landing spots for Puig, per Hector Gomez of Deportivo Z 101. The Athletic’s Nick Groke downplays the Rockies interest (via Twitter), however.
- CAA agent Jeff Berry lost two arbitration cases this week. Arbitration panels chose the team award amount in cases for J.T. Realmuto and Josh Hader, two transformative performers trying to make their cases to earn beyond the scope of their positional historical comps, per The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. Said Berry of the proceedings, “This was about two guys (Hader and Realmuto) willing to go to the mat to fight for what’s right, and hopefully other players take notice.” It’s possible to look at the results and presume that Berry overestimated his cases for both superstars (within the confines of the current system). It’s surely a fine line between fighting for the best result in an uneven system and politicking for change. Either way, the arbitration panel could use some work. Rosenthal brought a particularly interesting point to the foreground, noting that either the players’ union or MLB “can unilaterally fire any arbitrator at any time.” That’s certainly an inflection point for turning a supposedly unbiased system into one rife for manipulation.
- After trading for Cubs’ swingman Mike Montgomery in July, the Royals believe he can reach another gear when settled into a starting role, per Lynn Worthy of the Kansas City Star. The Cubs thought the same thing when they acquired Montgomery in the middle of 2016. Though the Cubs never found consistent work for Montgomery in the rotation, he played an important role as a swingman for Chicago. And of course, never forget, he earned the save in game seven of the 2016 World Series. Not for nothing, but Montgomery has desired a rotation slot for some time now, and it could be that the consistency and trust the Royals plan on giving him in his role will have the desired effect – but only time will tell. In 13 starts after the trade last season, Montgomery went 2-7 with a 4.64 ERA/5.23 FIP while striking out 7.2 batters per nine innings.
“This was about two guys (Hader and Realmuto) willing to go to the mat to fight for what’s right, and hopefully other players take notice.”
It isn’t a barroom brawl where you need to stand your ground. It’s an accounting exercise. It reminds me of Bautista saying he had no intention of giving TO a discount, when TO was already thinking that they didn’t really want him back.
Agent bravado. It’s part of the gig.
Over the last 30 years, any player with 5 years experience who lost their arbitration hearing, exactly 0% of them ended up re-signing long term with the team that “beat” him. I have no idea what the actual incentive is for a team to not immediately accept these veterans’ requests, because if they argue them, then the player is 100% going to leave.
I agree the language is terrible though, it’s not a “win/loss” scenario nor is it a “fight” or “battle”.
Spot on. The misguided Phillies front office of MacFail and Klentak just signed their own pink slips postdated Nov. 1st, 2020.
As though if you give them what they want in arbitration years they will give the team a discount when free agency hits. Get real. These guys almost always go to the highest bidder. There is no loyalty
as if teams have loyalty!
Stop with the “no loyalty” nonsense. It’s a business, and these guys have a short window in which to earn as much money as possible. Also, doesn’t loyalty go both ways? Shouldn’t these owners show “loyalty” to the players who line their pockets?
Do you read posts? Or just see things, get triggered, and comment?
Players do??? Who exactly is responsible for the long term health and holds the risk/loss? 1 short term asset, or the 1 holding the key to up to hundreds of employees and risk of possibly 2b (NYY, LAD, Bos) in loss?
Typical wrong headed answer which looks no further than “me, me, me”, which we see so much lately.
Strike Four, where did you find that stat? Do you have a link to that list.
He’s wrong. Quick google showed me Mariano Rivera lost his hearing in 2000.
Strike Four being wrong…SHOCKED
Plenty of guys have lost and ended up resigning. Nobody in in their right minds takes arbitration arguments personally. It’s a strictly business transaction. Strike Four’s comment is silly.
Even if that stat was true (and it’s not), each side has to treat it like a business. The player has to fight for every dollar they earn, and the team has to fight for every dollar they give up because arbitration contracts set the market for others.
If every team just simply gave in, the market comps would keep going up and it would pretty much defeat the purpose of arbitration in the first place.
Thank you Chet. I’m convinced Strike 4 has been brainwashed by Scott Boras Enterprises. He’s willing to navigate that golf ball thru the garden hose for any unsigned player of color.
Fake news by K4-FM
So is this Tim Kurkjian? Where did you get that stat?
It’s not an accounting exercise either, it’s a legal battle. The team is presenting in front of the player why they think that player deserves to make less money while the player is fighting for a higher share.
I don’t know what you’re missing here, but under the current system these cases are hugely important because catchers and firemen relievers are highly underpaid throughout the arb process relative to players at other positions who produce similar on field value.
@avejoe
You have it wrong. The team is saying the player deserves a large raise, and the player is saying he deserves even more. If a team has ever gone into arbitration saying the player deserves less than they made the year before, I missed it. Arbitration is always a win for the player.
@stymeedone
I think he simply meant the team is offering “less money” than what the player is asking for. He is not suggesting that the team is offering “less money” than the player is already making.
This is hardly the first case of hyperbole in sports.
Puig to White Sox. Let’s go.
Should the Sox roll the dice!? Probably might as well…
Probably maybe!
Hey, I just met you
Im a cubs fan but I have a lot of respect for what rick Hahn has done since they took the Kenny Williams reigns off, part of me thinks that if Kenny was still running the show puig is the starting right fielder and they don’t even trade for mazara, and I think puig could really fit in well on the south side not too mention make baseball in Chicago that much more interesting, but I’m not sure Hahn will be willing to add a player with his personality
He was an excellent citizen in Cincy, we the fans LOVED the guy and a large majority wanted him back…
Probably I think so most likely.
Don’t want Puig on the White Sox unless it’s on a one-year deal. Even then, he doesn’t really move the needle for them.
Puig is a MASSIVE upgrade over Adam Engel and Zack Collins, the two bench guys with options left who he would be replacing. Puig is also better than Mazara, whom he would form a platoon with because Mazara cant hit lefties (and isn’t that great against righties either – if he flops, Puig goes to everyday role).
Mazara against righties
.288/.344/.844
Puig against righties
.263/.317/.783
But don’t let facts get in the way…
Strike Four said “Mazara cant hit lefties.” You quoted his stats against righties.
He can’t read the word lefties I guess.
well good on Berry for letting his guys go at it
Rangers need to talk to Puig.
I think it would be a good fit.
His bat would be a good fit, but I don’t think his personality would. There’s a reason why he’s still unsigned.
Yes, and that reason is he wanted 20 mill a year. Nothing else.
Everyone knows that Craig Kimbrel had an attitude problem. That’s why he signed so late last year, right?
Character assassination is always easy when the guy you don’t like is, dare I say it (I dare! I dare!) dark skinned and from outside this country.
Roberto Clemente got the same treatment.
And you know this, how?
It must be a race issue- how else can you explain the lack of minorities in baseball. You’re an idiot.
Great comparison, a guy that played for only the Pirates in the majors 48-65 years ago certainly is equivalent to this mercurial player that nobody seems to want to touch unless they can snare him at pennies on the dollar. I can assure you if Clemente ever hit the open market teams would’ve lined up to sign him.
not everything is about race. congrats. you’re THAT guy. nobody likes THAT guy.
As I stated above, we loved the guy in Cincy!
Yet couldn’t play a whole season before being dealt. He’ll be renting the rest of his career…
The point was character assassination. But I see that I crossed a line by suggesting you might be a racist? Because that’s unfair to you? And you’re anonymous in this conversation about Puig, right?
Thanks, Internet.
@Marijuash, his personality definitely rubs more traditional(read as close minded?) baseball fans the wrong way. To me, baseball is such a slower-paced sport that it is well-served by dynamic personalities like Puig.
Regarding possible bias because of his skin color, who knows? But to deny the fact that every human has at least some some degree of bias an array of traits like gender identity/role ,age, ethnicity, or religion, or SE status is just that, a state of denial.
I suspect some of the same people who are bothered when a racial issue is brought up are some of the same people who had an issue of the new name for the “IL.”
Somewhat ironic? Or maybe it’s the “angry white male lacking a college degree” syndrome? Aka AWMLAC…maybe discloses in the next DSM edition?
Usually the first person claiming racism is actually the person making a racist point.
When you can’t come up with a real argument, just race bait. Do you work in the media?
Like Manny Machado, who got 300m and also had some attitude problems? Race baiting is just what ignorant people fall back on when they’re too incompetent to make real arguments.
When you get challenged about how you’re an idiot, just project and call the other person a racist. He’s so predictable and brainwashed.
Your act is tired, no one cares.
I think Bryce Harper “rubs people the wrong way too” and … he’s, you guessed it, white. Manny Machado rubs people the wrong way. Marisnick rubs the wrong way. Chase Utley rubs wrong.
There’s a whole lotta rubbin goin and it cuts across all race lines.
Agreed. One year only. Can always trade in a deadline.
Puig should retire. His act is old and tired.
I don’t think a 29 year old player is going to retire because you don’t like him…
Especially when he will still make another $30M+ in his remaining career.
I stand by my opinion. You stand by yours. Life is grand, isn’t it?
Life, sometimes. You, not so much.
@southern … stop repressing you true feelings when Puig bites the ball and licks the bat.
In recent years, he’s become more mature and still entertaining.
Your ice-cold take on him is whats “old and tired”.
@strike four your constant race baiting, whining is old and tired! Grow up and get a job.
Yes it is. I stand by my opinion as you should yours.
At my age (which is none of your business) everything is old. I still stand by my opinion.
Right, he should retire and forfeit all the future millions coming his way. What’s old and tired is the Puig bashers posting their nonsense every time he’s mentioned in an article.
Wish the Reds had room to bring him back. He was a positive presence here.
I wish they would too…he was an excellent citizen and a great teammate!
Why is Puig being referred to as a pugilist in this article? Wording like that seems to be a bit biased towards the player. Don’t you think?
*Puigilist
@soraya, no, it is likely a reference to him being an active role in bench-clearing “brawls.”
While the last two brawls were more related to the Pirates antiquated pitching department, Puig was out in front for his team and did land blows.
Active *participant* not role
Is Hector Gomez the one who always spreads the false rumors about the Sox?
Which teams could use Puig? Aren’t the Chisox running out of spots?
Mazara and Engel should be Mazara and Puig. Engel has an option left. Puig and Leury can also spell Robert in CF if you send down Engel.
Or if you hate the idea of Puig/Leury seeing small amounts of time in CF, send Collins down and keep Engel as the official backup CF, because Puig is better than Engel, Leury or Collins.
Puig is a perfect fit for that particular White Sox team and has plenty of playoff experience (.780 OPS over 202 PA), which barely any White Sox position players outside of Encarnacion & Grandal have.
Puig is a righty + Mazara is a lefty + Engel has an option left = Puig fits like a glove on that ChiSox team, which features more Cubans than any team ever has in recent memory. Or send Zack Collins and his 2 options down.
I’d send Collins down if the Sox sign Puig. I want Engel on my team. A contending club needs defense and speed as well as an average hitter like Puig. Collins, so far, has not shown himself to be an average hitter.
Puig’s platoon splits aren’t what you’d normally think of for RHB.
Good point, for a right handed bat he hits righty’s better than lefties.
@strike four- the only person making sense in this whole comment section!
Perhaps Puig will end up with a non-contender like Baltimore, Detroit, Seattle, Pittsburgh, Miami, et. al. If he plays well they can flip him for prospects in the summer.
I think the Tigs are out of the race with the recent addition of Cam Maybin. Unless they send Christin Stewart back to AAA and keep Daz Cameron in Toledo.. Which would be my choice..
Seattle is also out, they are entirely committed to trying out their young guys.
Many young bats to give opportunities to this year.
Some pretty good young bats, to get pretty excited about, at least in Seattle.
Your assumption that Seattle wants to win this year is wholly wrong. Heck, if the M’s were offered Trout for 2 prospects they would say no…that is how much they do not want to win this year
It is really sad how correct you are… The longest active playoff drought in North American sports, and yet they don’t care about making moves to help them win…
As long as Dipoto is at the helm they’ll continue to struggle.
I’d love Puig as a Met
One team that hasn’t been mentioned in the Puig discussion is the Angels. Puig would be an upgrade over Goodwin and a middle of the lineup of Trout, Rendon, Puig and an aging Pujols wouldn’t be bad.
Plus that would let Jo Adell take his time in AAA.
The biggest problem with Puig is his attitude. In many ways the Dodgers Front Office tolerated him, and the Sales Dept, loved him. However, his fellow players and the bench coaches had big problems with Puig. Puig didn’t take advice from anyone. He refused to be coached or learn the outfield charts to be in position for each batter. If he had a good day hitting, he would take the next day off from Batting Practice.
If you look at some of the bench clearing brawls that were caused by Puig like with Giants catcher, Nick Hundley, fellow teammates get tired of the theatrics..
I doubt that a team with Pujols and Trout would tolerate Puig, no matter his numbers..
I am guessing that Puig will be signed by the Marlins or the Ray. Puig would had been signed, if he didn’t have such a bad numbers in Cleveland at the end of the season, plus if he showed that he changed his attitude. No one really wants to give the money that Puig wants, who is a huge headache in the clubhouse. The guy could had been a superstar, if he actually took care of himself..
Indians should resign Puig, was popular last year with fans and team mates, would also keep him away from Chi Sox.
If the Indians wanted him back he would’ve been signed long ago. Tito despite being one of the best players-manager ever wants no part of him coming back. He also showed almost no power in his time in Cleveland, 2 dingers in 207 PAs is not what you expect out of a corner OF in a pennant race.
Funny Tito said he was a great team player and on girls asset. Maybe they been waiting for his price to go down?
I’m not buying that Tito believes that; if he wanted him back he’d already be there..
Says the anonymous guy dropping the race card where it doesn’t belong.
Puig has a well documented history of negative behavior, that, and only that, is the direct link to why people suggest he has an attitude problem.
About a third of MLB players are Latino. Something like half the players in the minors. The Census Bureau in September of 2018 stated that approximately 18.1% of Americans are Latino. MLB has hired nearly twice that to play in the game. It’s ridiculous to suggest he’s not being signed because he isn’t a white dude. The numbers simply do not support a claim of institutional racism against Latinos in baseball.
Sorry but I can’t figure out whom you’re responding to.
I think Puig is the victim of his own shenanigans.
“The mercurial and ever-entertaining pugilist…”
Nice! 100%
Tito said he was great in the clubhouse and on the field. Could they be waiting for his price to go down?
Don’t care if you’re buying it.
Cool, if you could provide actual proof it would mean something.
I have no idea what Puig is waiting for. Teams are quickly filling their vacancies. Being on the wrong side of 30 next year, this is his last chance for him to play up to his talents and prove that he deserves a big contract. Sign anywhere that will give you the most ABs already.
Puig 1 yr 4.5M Miami, traded at the deadline.
I am thinking that the Marlins are probably the best place for Puig to do well. The Marlins are last in the league for attendance, Puig would help in bringing in more people from the Calle Ocho section of Miami. Puig lives in South Florida. The other place is St. Pete with the Rays..
Puig is not going to get a long term contract, he is too erratic, thinks he knows best… He has to shape up.. His best bet is get an one year deal, show he can carry a team with his bat, and try to get a better contract for 2021..
If the Jays didn’t decide to sign a guy coming off a .157/.281/.270 season for $4-million they could have used Puig. Dump Fisher, Puig RF, Grichuk CF, Tellez 1B, Hernandez DH. If the team had concern over Puig’s influence on Vlad or Gurriel then they didn’t address the leadership in the locker room. Puig could have fit in Toronto.