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Astros Rumors: Yasiel Puig would be a strong fit in Houston’s outfield

By Dan Shedd

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 Houston Astros are reportedly interested in free-agent outfielder Yasiel Puig. How would he fit in their outfield?

According to MLB reporter Mark Feinsand, the Houston Astros are interested in right fielder Yasiel Puig.

Puig played with the Cleveland Indians and the Cincinnati Reds in 2019, hitting .267 with 24 home runs and 84 RBI. He had agreed to a contract with the Atlanta Braves last July, but the deal fell through after he tested positive for COVID-19.

Now, Puig is playing in the Dominican Winter League with the Toros del Este, who are in the hunt for it’s second straight championship. In 20 plate appearances with the club during the regular season, while battling a right leg injury, he walked seven times and struck out six times. He went 3-for-13 with a double and a RBI.

Puig is most known however for his tenure with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he spent six seasons with the team, going to back-to-back World Series with the team in 2017 and ’18. With the Dodgers, Puig had 108 home runs, 331 RBI and an .831 OPS before he was shipped off to the Reds in December 2018.

If he can stay healthy, I think he would be a good addition to the Astros because of his offense and defensive prowess that the team needs if they want to make a deep postseason run. Adding Puig might be part of the answer to the Astros’ outfield need, with all their 2020 starters currently unsigned and George Springer increasingly unlikely to return.

Whatever the Astros do, they need to be prepared to open up their checkbook to get the talent they want. Puig, however, would be a low-cost option for the team. And while the Astros surprised baseball with their deep postseason run in 2020, they now need to supplement their current roster to remain competitive this season and beyond.

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