Let’s check in on three of the majors’ franchises…
- A report over the weekend all but placed free-agent outfielder Yasiel Puig in a Giants uniform. Henry Schulman of the San Francisco doesn’t seem nearly as confident a deal will come together, though, and Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi told Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic via text, “We are not having any conversations (internal or external) about player transactions at this point.” However, as Baggarly notes, that doesn’t mean a Puig signing isn’t under consideration. There’s a freeze on transactions because of the coronavirus, so even if the Giants do intend to pick up Puig, they’ll have to continue to wait to make the move. For what it’s worth, it wasn’t long ago that the Giants reportedly showed interest in Puig, who has a couple important connections in San Francisco. Zaidi and manager Gabe Kapler were both members of the Dodgers organization during at least part of Puig’s run with the Giants’ archrivals from 2013-18.
- Optimism about a 2020 season getting underway seems to be growing. One idea that came to the forefront last week includes a three-state plan in which Arizona, Florida and Texas would divvy up the games. Rangers president of baseball operations Jon Daniels spoke about that with Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, saying: “For a variety of factors, it makes a lot of sense. We’ve had some involvement from a due diligence standpoint, but I would not want to overstate that piece of it. I think [Dodgers president] Stan Kasten said about one percent of all ideas have become public; there have been a lot of ideas. That’s just one.” If a season does occur, the Rangers – after a fairly aggressive winter – will look to bounce back from three straight sub-.500 campaigns. Their roster doesn’t seem likely to undergo any more significant changes before a potential season happens. Asked how much time the Rangers have recently spent talking to other teams about upgrading their club, Daniels told Grant, “Very little; close to none.”
- Lynn Worthy of the Kansas City Star details how Royals outfielder Bubba Starling is dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. As you’d expect, Starling is hoping to return to the field as soon as possible. The out-of-options 27-year-old had been competing to earn a roster spot before spring training shut down. Starling’s a former No. 5 overall draft pick in 2011 who had a run as an outstanding MLB prospect, but his career hasn’t gone according to plan thus far. He debuted in the majors last year and batted just .215/.255/.317 over 197 plate appearances. Starling also hasn’t been very productive in Triple-A ball, where he has hit .255/.305/.376 in 805 attempts, but he could still make a rebuilding KC team that’s in position to give chances to unproven players.
GiantsFan81
As a diehard Giants fan I would still root for madbum in a Diamondbacks jersey against Puig in a Giants jersey
wiggysf
I’d have to agree with that.
PutPeteRoseInTheHall
yeesh i never thought about that, but im with ya
Afk711
This sums up Giant fans perfectly. Way too sentimental to the point they would root against their own team.
Baseball 1600
Oh please. I’m sure a Dodgers fan would root for Kershaw in a Dbacks jersey if he were to pitch to MadBum wearing a dodgers jersey. Stupid comment.
brandons-3
I’d be more interested in my team winning. I root for good baseball, my team, and individual players in that order.
As a Braves fan, I was happy to see Tim Hudson earn a ring in 2014 even if it wasn’t with the Braves since my team didn’t have a horse in the race that postseason.
All fans and teams overvalue their own guys more than outsiders.
Afk711
No we would not root against our own team, thats flat out ridiculous. Especially if its a team in the NL west. Can always root for a former player to do well but not at the expense of our team. Typical Giants fan thinking this is normal behavior. The Giants have had such a pathetic OF group for a long time now, they really should root for Puig to perform at his best. Bumgarner was a Dodgers target this offseason and if he ended up here I would have welcomed him with open arms.
ronnyalton
@ Brandon Sans; I agree with you. I love a good ballgame, especially when it’s the Bravos. I loved Tim Hudson and it hurt to see Wren let him walk. I hated that it was the Giants that picked him up. I did however absolutely love seeing him get a championship. He deserved it even if it wasn’t with the Braves. I get it.
rightyspecialist
Giants fans.Lol
PutPeteRoseInTheHall
bruh you say that on everything. no one thinks its funny
orangenblackattack
Yankees fans.Lol
DarkSide830
who cares. fans are allowed to root for whoever they like.
PutPeteRoseInTheHall
its puig jenius
paddyo furnichuh
Go get your ball outta the bay. Not exactly how Muncy said it, but an entertaining moment. Madbum was like a deity in his playoff performance, but his routine when a hitter looks at his Homer for anything other than a split-second is tiresome. “You just lost that brief battle, take it like a man and not an angry ‘neck!” would be nice to hear the next time he gives up a home run. Pardon the rant.
paddyo furnichuh
Homer? In my typo, hitters are fans of Greek classics.
Afk711
We almost got Bumgarner as a Dodger and Puig as a Giant. 2021 you’re a weird one.
jorge78
The Dodgers didn’t “almost get” Madgarter! His preference was to pitch in the valley of the (too hot) sun. Get over yourself Mr.
my team always finishes second…..
Afk711
I love how you’re always here policing comments but you completely butcher the players names constantly. Who is Madgarter? Is he related to Pollack and Cershaw? Come on Jorge, learn their names before you talk about them. It doesn’t matter that he ended up in Arizona. Puig is likely going to be a Giant. There was a point where the Dodgers were in on Bumgarner. The fact thats even being said is crazy and the very thought of a universe where that happened would make fans of that rivalry eyes bleed.
Dodgethis
There was never a point where anyone except Arizona was in on Bumgarner. Madison told his agent he wanted to play in Arizona and they didn’t talk to anyone except the Giants, whom they informed of their decision. Stop pretending the dodgers are some powerhouse destination that players want to go. It’s not.
dandan
…it’s 2020 though?
geg42
I’m ready
rightyspecialist
Given the fact that Zaidi is trying to build a New culture in Frisco, Puig makes absolutely no sense. Yasiel Puig is a notorious “me guy” It’s well documented that His teammates in Los Angeles loathed him. Adding Puig in SF would be a bad thing , not a good thing
earmbrister
Your info is wrong. A certain teammate and one LA sportswriter had it out for him. Puig has been a team player and a guy who hustles his tail off ever since.
willymayshayse
Saw EVERY game puig played in Cincy. ABSOLUTELY a team player! Stuck up for his teammates, played smart and aggressive, incredibly fun to watch,and was an amazing part of the community during his brief stint. Your me first assessment is WAY off base!
jdgoat
One teammate is all you know.
willymayshayse
HIS name is actually George…..he just misspelled that one too!
Moneyballer
The coronavirus is especially brutal for unsigned players. They may literally get no chance this season. As far as Puig goes, I doubt he’s ever had a legit contract offer come his way, even a low ball one.
mark1125
I could have sworn he himself said he had offers that didn’t meet his needs (Marlins for one). If so, maybe he over values his worth.
PutPeteRoseInTheHall
actually puig did recieve several offers, though he denied every one of them. one was the marlins
amanda_hugandkiss
Package Puig ‘19/Samardzija ‘19 at the ‘deadline’ and you’ve got a couple B prospects. Somewhat vintage Cueto/Puig ‘19 gets you a top 100 guy…
cabig75
So called Giants fans rooting for Madbum & booing Puig? So if Madbum shuts out the Giants you dummies will be happy with that? Did the corona virus wiped your brains cells? Die hard fans of there teams stick with there teams. Madbum is no longer a Giant. Thank you for everything you’ve done but F the D-Backs & F U Madbum. Hope Puig stares at his homer when he smashes one off Madbum headed toward left field
jekporkins
I’m with you, man. When Kent, Butler, and Wilson went to LA and people were giving them standing ovations when they came back to town I couldn’t believe it.
We can root for MadBum again when he retires. I’m not going to root for a D-Back unless they are playing the Dodgers.
Kingman#26
Puig would energize the Giants, need some swagger.
giants number 1 fan
Zaidi and Kapler can take Puig and go to hell.
JayRyder
Yeah