To provide backup in the outfield for the regular trio of Ronald Acuña Jr., Michael Harris II, and offseason signing Jarred Kelenic, the Atlanta Braves must sign an experienced outfielder.
We’ve already dived into this topic here at Braves Today, with Jake writing about some of the basic choices and Kyle especially delving into a reunion with Kevin Pillar.
However, I have a notion for an MLB veteran who, should all go according to plan, should not only be a dominant force but also reasonably priced (which is important because Atlanta is getting dangerously near to the third CBT barrier and the MLB Draft penalties that go along with it).
This winter, Puig has been playing in Venezuela for Tiburones de La Guaira with Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. He has been extremely dominant, with a slash line of.418/.518/.846 with 10 home runs and 23 RBIs in 26 games, nearly equalling the number of walks (16) with strikeouts (17).
Despite playing in fifty-three games each, Puig leads the squad in home runs, with the next two players trailing him by two. (Ronald has played 21 games and is in fourth place with seven).
Acuña’s roster presence also made Puig play primarily left field, allaying worries that he spent most of his major league career (761 of 826 defensive games) in right field. Puig, in his 41 outfield games this winter between Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, where he played 18 games this winter, has committed zero errors and showed off that he still has his big cannon of a right arm, picking up three outfield assists.
If Puig can play both outfield corners with skill, offer punch off the bench, and has a solid rapport with Ronald Acuña Jr. already, Atlanta’s front staff should look into signing him to a non-guaranteed contract because it will be less expensive.
However, Puig would only sign a minor league contract that is not guaranteed for a number of reasons.
To begin with, Puig hasn’t participated in Major League Baseball since 2019, at which time he split his time between Cleveland and Cincinnati, totalling 149 games. One of several instances during that season where Puig’s passion flared while benches cleared, Puig was notably suspended for multiple games for his behaviour during a brawl between the Reds and the Pirates.
Puig was scheduled to join with Atlanta in July 2020 after becoming a free agent that offseason, but the team’s hopes of bringing the slugger from Cuba aboard were dashed when Puig tested positive for COVID-19.
Then the legal issues started. After missing the whole 2021 MLB season, Puig was cleared of all charges in late 2020 despite being accused of sexually abusing a female acquaintance in 2018. The case was ultimately settled out of court. Puig has refuted any misconduct in this matter.
