Yasiel Puig may have no suitors in 2021 after Royals lose interest
Yasiel Puig may end up without a team in 2021 now that the Royals are reportedly out on adding him.
Yasiel Puig last played during the 2019 MLB season with the Cleveland Indians. Before that he spent 2013-2018 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and appeared to be someone who would have no trouble landing a multi-year deal somewhere in the league.
Cut to 2021 and he is a man without a team after missing the entire 2020 season. He did get close to signing with the Atlanta Braves, but tested positive for COVID-19 and never signed the contract.
Puig entered 2021 with some reported interest on his name. Now, according to MLB insider Jon Heyman, the interest has dried up.
The Royals are not in on Yasiel Puig. Which makes it a clean sweep. The 3 teams rumored to be in on Puig — Marlins, Yankees and Royals — are not interested. For his sake, hopefully there are teams.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 3, 2021
Puig still searching for a place to play
This is not great news for the outfielder who is still only 30 years old. However, we are going off the report from Heyman that the Kansas City Royals, New York Yankees, and Miami Marlins were the top teams with interest. It is still possible another team out there will give Puig a contract or at minimum a Spring Training invite. Him getting no offers at all would just be bizarre.
Puig has never had a negative-WAR season and has never really been overpaid either. He signed a seven-year, $42 million deal with the Dodgers originally and made around $9 million in 2019.
Spotrac has his market value at around three years and $52 million. That would represent a major raise for a player who did not even play in 2020. So it is possible the asking price is just out of reality at this point in time.
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MLB offseason rumors tend to be vague at best. For Puig’s sake, hopefully there is a team ready to sign him before the season begins.