© Kareem Elgazzar, Cincinnati Enquirer via Imagn Content Services, LLC
Might Yasiel Puig become the newest member of the San Francisco Giants? According to CBS Sports’ Jim Bowden, that might be in the cards, with Bowden reporting Tuesday that the Giants are expected to pursue Puig once MLB’s transaction freeze ends on Friday.
#Giants expecting to be players for outfielder Yasiel Puig as soon as freeze is lifted according to sources close to the #Giants front office.
— Jim Bowden (@JimBowdenGM) June 24, 2020
Obviously, there is an unhealthy level of animosity towards Puig among fans after his years with the Los Angeles Dodgers and frequent battles with Madison Bumgarner… and that time he got into a physical altercation with Nick Hundley.
Puig your enemy ? pic.twitter.com/K6dq4oxTbo
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) August 15, 2018
The more pertinent question is, if the Giants are actually interested, which seems to be the case, where does he fit in? Is he a starting outfielder? A rotational guy? The team’s go-to designated hitter? Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow joined the Murph and Mac show on Wednesday and didn’t have a clear answer to that question.
“I don’t really see where they can use him because they don’t need a DH,” Krukow said. “Darin Ruf, he’s the guy that had a great spring and he’s the guy who’s coming out of Korea with really some good numbers the last couple years and we were all excited about him. I think, ‘Where there’s your DH, or Hunter Pence.’ How’d he do as DH last year with the Rangers? Well he made the All-Star team. And then you’ve got Pablo coming back, he’s gonna be ready to go. So there’s a guy who hits from the left side. So I don’t really know where you need Puig. You don’t need him defensively.”
Listen to the full interview below: