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Baltimore Orioles Rumors: Please, Sign Yasiel Puig

By Kristen Bentley

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 09: Yasiel Puig #66 of the Cleveland Indians slides into third base against the Minnesota Twins during the game on August 9, 2019 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Indians defeated the Twins 6-2. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 09: Yasiel Puig #66 of the Cleveland Indians slides into third base against the Minnesota Twins during the game on August 9, 2019 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Indians defeated the Twins 6-2. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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The Baltimore Orioles have the lowest payroll in the MLB, and they have the least amount of service time of any team.

Because of this, the Baltimore Orioles are very few veterans. In fact, only a small handful of players have even gotten into free agency.

But, if the rumors are true, the Orioles are looking to add the controversial and talented outfielder Yasiel Puig. And, I certainly hope they do.

The report came from Mark Feinsand via Twitter:

And, the reports were also shared on the Orioles website via Joe Trezza. However, Trezza clearly shared that the club has not confirmed that an offer has been made. But, with several spots still available on the 60-man player pool, and Trey Mancini out for the season, Puig makes sense.

The Cuban outfielder spent most of his MLB career with Dodgers. In 2019, he split the season between the Reds and the Indians. He’s been sitting out there in free-agent land, unsigned and hoping for a team to snap him up. And, the Orioles could use him.

DENVER, CO – JULY 12: Jose Iglesias #4 of the Cincinnati Reds swings his glove at Yasiel Puig #66 in jest as the two walk onto the field during a game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on July 12, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – JULY 12: Jose Iglesias #4 of the Cincinnati Reds swings his glove at Yasiel Puig #66 in jest as the two walk onto the field during a game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on July 12, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

He would not be the only Cuban on the team. Jose Iglesias was also born and raised in Cuba. Both Iglesias and Puig have fascinating stories about getting from the Cuba to the new homes in the United States. They also played together in 2019 on the Reds.

Puig is a character who fans seem to love or hate. He has his very own style of baseball that involves oddities like kissing his bat and his batting coaches. With the COVID-19 limitations, he would certainly have to change his antics.

Puig’s unconventional style has proven to work for him. In his seven-year career, he has a slash of .277/.348/.475 with an average of 18.8 home runs per season. In 2019, he had an OPS+ of 100, and has only one season below 100. In 2014, he was an All-Star, and in 2013, he finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year vote. He lost to the Marlins Jose Fernandez.

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There have been several reports of other teams interested in Puig, but the Orioles could truly use his veteran experience and his right-handed bat. There are several potential outfielders on the 60-man roster, but a few haven’t even shown up for camp yet – including Anthony Santander and Dwight Smith, Jr. Joe Trezza shared that little detail in his piece about prospects arriving in camp on Friday.

Without Santander and Smith, all of the outfielders are youngsters, some with no more than a cup of coffee. Cedric Mullins played in 22 games in 2019 giving him the most MLB experience of the outfielders in camp (unless you could Stevie Wilkerson).

Even though the Orioles won’t be selling any tickets to Camden Yards, Puig could draw an audience, especially for fans who want to see more than prospects and a few veterans on the team. I have been a Puig fan since his debut in Los Angeles, and would love to see him do his thing in Baltimore.

Next. Predicing Which O's Prospects Will Play in 2020. dark

He’s an odd duck who might not be the easiest to manage, but he is also a talented ball player who would instantly make the Orioles better. And, he’s quite entertaining – and baseball could use some of that after the dumpster fire that got us to the 60-game season. I hope the sign the right fielder and get him on the fastest plane to Camden Yards.

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