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Oakland A’s: Yasiel Puig could be an intriguing fit

By David Hill

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 27: Yasiel Puig #66 of the Cleveland Indians takes the field against the Washington Nationals during the eighth inning at Nationals Park on September 27, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 27: Yasiel Puig #66 of the Cleveland Indians takes the field against the Washington Nationals during the eighth inning at Nationals Park on September 27, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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The Oakland A’s need an outfielder. It is also likely that they will rummage through the bargain bin in their quest to find someone to fill their gap in the outfield, provided that they do not look to have one of their minor leaguers fill that role. Fortunately for the A’s, there are plenty of options available in free agency that they could consider.

One intriguing option would be Yasiel Puig. He has been linked to several teams recently, although the A’s are not on that list. However, he could be a solid fit in the lineup, and in the budget.

Why Yasiel Puig and the Oakland A’s

Puig would seem to be an imperfect fit in Oakland. The A’s are primarily looking for a left fielder to replace Robbie Grossman, and the former All Star has just seven games of major league experience at the position. Stephen Piscotty, the A’s right fielder, has 55 games of experience in left, but has struggled there defensively.

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Despite that limited experience, Puig did show the potential to be a viable major league left fielder. He saved two runs in just 37 innings, showing above average range. He may be able to transition to left with success.

Then there is the financial aspect. He missed all of the 2020 campaign due to COVID when the Braves decided to cancel his contract. Puig’s 2019 season was a bit of a disappointment as well – his .267/.327/.458 batting line with 24 homers, 30 doubles, and 19 steals were reasonably solid, but he also posted a 99 OPS+. That was not the type of production that either the Reds or Indians were expecting.

Those struggles, and his subsequent missed time, could make Puig a bargain. The A’s are not going to be spending much in free agency. Any larger contract would likely go to either Marcus Semien or Tommy La Stella, two players that Oakland has specifically mentioned wanting to bring back. With a smaller contract likely, Puig could bring back a strong return on investment.

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The Oakland A’s need an outfielder. Yasiel Puig could be worth taking a gamble on.