Los Angeles Angels: Why not take a chance on Yasiel Puig?

The Los Angeles Angels appear to be done making moves with the team reporting to Spring Training but there could be value in signing Yasiel Puig.

The Los Angeles Angels enter Spring Training with a lot of promise surrounding the team as fans hope that the activity in the offseason was enough to warrant the team’s first playoff appearance since 2014 and first playoff win since 2009.

While the team missed out on its biggest target in Gerrit Cole, the front office was quickly able to pivot and bring in National League MVP finalist, Anthony Rendon. The pitching staff was not completely fixed, but the front office did as good as it could in adding Julio Teheran and Dylan Bundy.

The biggest pressing need is still starting pitching but that should not stop the Los Angeles Angels making any moves that could improve the team. Interestingly enough, there is an above-average free agent that is still available on the open market that would be an absolute steal in Yasiel Puig.

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Why Puig is still a free agent is one of the most bewildering things in the sport. While some may point to his antics on the field, he is still a valuable asset that teams have shown interest in. Both the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians traded for Puig in 2019, and he had a pretty decent year.

He is not the same enigma that we saw in 2013 and 2014 but he is still a well-above-average offensive producer. Puig hit 24 home runs with 84 RBIs, a .267 batting average and a .785 OPS last season.

That was after an awful start with the Reds as he was really good in Cleveland. In 49 games with the Indians, Puig hit .297 with a .800 OPS and 23 RBIs. Sure, he only hit two home runs, but he hit 15 doubles and got on base 37.7 percent of the time.

Puig has quietly been pretty good at the plate over the last three years and it has simply been out shadowed by his Wild Horse moniker and the fact that he would never live up to the historic start of his career in 2013.

Puig is one of 32 players in the league with 75 or more home runs, 220 or more RBIs and a .260 or better batting average over the last three seasons. If you throw his 49 stolen bases into the equation he becomes just one of seven players to do so.

Another positive of Puig is his postseason experience. Puig is the Los Angeles Dodgers’ all-time leader in postseason games, which is experience that would be extremely beneficial to the Angels and has thrived in October.

Puig has a lifetime .280 batting average with five home runs, 23 RBIs and a .780 OPS in 58 postseason games.

It is worth mentioning that despite his rocket arm he is below average in the outfield but the analytics can be misleading and Puig is probably a better fielder than they give him credit for. Heck, just three years ago he posted a positive DEF rating on FanGraphs, essentially meaning he was an above-average fielder that season.

But even with that aside, the Los Angeles Angels potentially have the opportunity to bring Puig in on a one-year contract that pays him far less than he is actually worth. At this point, Puig would likely agree to a one-year contract worth $5-7.5 million, which does not restrict the Angels in any way from adding a pitcher down the line.

Heck, the team already showed interest in bringing in a fourth outfielder in Joc Pederson, who is making $7.75 million in 2020.

Puig could at least give the Angels someone that can split time with Brian Goodwin and could be an insurance option for any injuries. The team needs this, as Justin Upton always has injury concerns and may not be the slugger that Angel fans are hoping him to be in 2020.

What about Jo Adell? If Puig thrives in his role then he would simply take the starting job over Goodwin and Adell would still have the same path to the Majors as he currently does: either as a September call-up or injury replacement.

And if Puig does not do well in his role then it is a relatively low risk, as the Angels are not paying him long-term and can afford a few million out of Arte Moreno’s pocket.

If Puig performs well but the Los Angeles Angels are out of playoff contention then that gives the team a trade chip to get a prospect for. It won’t be much, but it would be an addition to the farm system for a guy that was not even on the team in February.