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Not even the coronavirus can halt the Yasiel Puig debate.
The polarizing outfielder is again in the news, again possibly linked with the Giants, after a reporter who focuses on the Cuban baseball community reported Puig is near a deal with San Francisco.
Francys Romero’s report, which neither side can confirm because of the transaction freeze that the players union and MLB has agreed upon during the pandemic, poured gas on the same flames that have been stoked all offseason as the Giants sought a power-hitting bat in the corner outfield.
Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow said the notion of Puig becoming a Giant is “definitely possible.” Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi knew Puig in Los Angeles. Zaidi is always seeking talent. Puig is curiously still a free agent. Could the unthinkable be thinkable?
“I’ve been hard on Puig over the years because I didn’t think he was a mature player on the field,” Krukow said on KNBR’s “Murph & Mac” on Monday. “He would do some things that were suspect, and I didn’t think his arm was the smartest arm in the world. I thought it was one of the best arms in the world. He was basically learning the game on the big-league level. He never lacked for energy.”
Krukow talked himself into the odd pairing, the hated Dodger being a Giant and beloved Madison Bumgarner now a Diamondback. The two would face each other again (if baseball is indeed played this season), which would be great fun for baseball fans, even if it would force Giants fans into a difficult rooting decision.
The Giants’ current outfield does not have much in the way of stars but is plenty filled with options, Alex Dickerson and Hunter Pence platooning in left, Mike Yastrzemski, Billy Hamilton and Mauricio Dubon in center, right field possibilities that include Jaylin Davis, Austin Slater, Joey Rickard, perhaps Darin Ruf.
They did not bring back Kevin Pillar because they said they wanted the younger options to get more at-bats. In that fashion, Puig would be a somewhat perplexing addition, although the presumed shorter season does allow the Giants a greater shot at contention.
“I don’t think [Puig is] the same player that he first was when he got in the big leagues,” Krukow said of Puig, who also would be a tough fit because he’s a righty with reverse splits; he has hit righties better than lefties in his career. “I think he’s matured, I think he’s mellowed out. From what I’ve ever heard about the guy, he’s a great teammate, he’s like a big kid in the clubhouse. He would definitely fit in there.
“He’s kind of like the Panda, bouncing off the walls, he’s energetic. Farhan knows him, he knows what he brings, and he knows this club. If he thinks that Puig can bring offense or he can bring defense or whatever he can bring that applies to the makeup of this team, then yeah, so be it. I don’t think he’s a bad guy.”