In an interview Friday during ESPN’s broadcast of a Spring Training game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Kansas City Royals, the agent for free-agent outfielder Yasiel Puig was asked whether her client might sign with a Major League Baseball team in the near future.
“Yeah, that’s the goal. That’s the plan,” agent Rachel Luba replied, pointing out that the Milwaukee Brewers signed outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. a day earlier. “It’s a weird, weird offseason, that’s for sure.”
Cincinnati Reds right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) licks his bat after swinging for strike two in the second inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Atlanta Braves at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Thursday, April 25, 2019. (Photo: Sam Greene)
Puig, who turned 30 in December, became a free agent after the 2019 season. He did not play in MLB last season.
In 100 games for the Reds during the 2019 season, Puig hit .252 with 22 home runs and 61 RBIs. In 207 plate appearances for the Indians after the Reds sent Puig to Cleveland as part of a three-team trade that brought 2020 National League Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer to Cincinnati, Puig hit .297 with two homers and 23 RBIs.
Luba also represents Bauer, who brought the Reds a compensation pick after the first round of the 2021 MLB Draft when he agreed last month to a three-year, $102 million deal with the Dodgers.
MLB analyst and former Reds general manager Jim Bowden reported in January that Puig was a candidate to join the New York Yankees, the Kansas City Royals or the Miami Marlins.
Later, MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reported that the Marlins were not pursuing Puig, and added that there was no evidence the Yankees had interest in Puig.
MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported earlier in the month that Puig was drawing interest from multiple Major League Baseball teams, including the Yankees, the Marlins, the Boston Red Sox, the Houston Astros and the Baltimore Orioles.
Puig announced via Twitter last July that he tested positive for COVID-19, and his deal with the Atlanta Braves that had been reported earlier that week was off after the two sides failed to reach a formal agreement.
Puig played for the Dodgers for six seasons before the Reds acquired him in Dec. 2018 with Kyle Farmer, Matt Kemp, Alex Wood and cash for Jeter Downs, Josiah Gray and Homer Bailey.
Cincinnati Reds’ Yasiel Puig, center, is restrained by Pittsburgh Pirates’ Melky Cabrera, left, and Reds’ Joey Votto (19) during a bench clearing brawl in the fourth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, April 7, 2019. (Photo: Gene J. Puskar/AP)
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José De León made his second start of spring training on Friday as he competes for a spot in the starting rotation.
Cincinnati Enquirer