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MLB rumors: 5 teams that should sign Yasiel Puig

By Brad Berreman

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 17: Yasiel Puig #66 of the Cleveland Indians in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 17, 2019 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Indians 6-5. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 17: Yasiel Puig #66 of the Cleveland Indians in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 17, 2019 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Indians 6-5. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images /

2. Texas Rangers

The Rangers have a pretty left handed-heavy lineup, and as of right now Willie Calhoun looks to be their Opening Day left fielder. Joey Gallo is shifting to right field full-time this year, and Danny Santana may have more value as a utility player all over the field than the everyday center fielder.

Puig hit 19 of his 24 home runs off right-handers last year. In terms of raw OPS though, the difference was far less dramatic (.791 vs. left-handers; 783 vs. right-handers). The larger sample of his entire career reveals a significant reverse split, with huge reverse splits over the three seasons prior to last year, as he has a career OPS of .845 against right-handers and a career OPS of .762 against lefties.

Some of that can be chalked up to pure volume, with over 2,400 plate appearances against righties and 934 plate appearances against lefties, but any surface (and wrong) perception of Puig as a pure masher of left-handers should not exist at this point.

The fit looks a bit strained, but Texas was looking for right-handed bats this offseason and they did manage to sign one (Todd Frazier). With at-bats to possibly be had in left field and as an occasional DH, signing Puig would be a nice final offseason move for Rangers’ general manager Jon Daniels.

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