Not many players become an instant hit with a fanbase, but Yasiel Puig did just that with the Dodgers in 2013. Puig endeared himself to fans by playing an electric outfield, crushing baseballs, burning up the basepaths, and licking his bat before stepping to the plate.
Despite his stellar performance on the field from 2013-19, Puig's time in Los Angeles was overshadowed by off-the-field issues. He would routinely show up late to practice. At one point, Dodgers pitcher J.P. Howell had to restrain Puig from going after then-teammate Zack Greinke.
Puig has been out of the league since 2019 amid legal troubles, but according to Francys Romero, multiple teams have recently shown interest in Puig,
Puig, 33, could make a return to MLB after a four-years absence. As mentioned in the post above, he has been absolutely raking in the Caribbean winter circuit. Scouts can debate how well his numbers would translate against major league pitching, but at least Puig is committed to practicing the skills that once made him famous.
In seven MLB seasons, Puig had a career .823 OPS and 122 OPS+. He split his final season, 2019, between the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians as a league-average bat.
A team certainly could take a flyer on him. He still has some outstanding legal battles ahead of him, so that certainly plays a factor in his signing. If it's true the Rays are looking at Puig, it would be exciting to watch him play alongside fellow Cuban Randy Arozarena.
The only road back to the majors might require Puig sign a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. If he's willing to accept one, keep an eye out for number 66 at a Cactus or Grapefruit League ballpark near you.
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