Puig your Giant?
Shortly after it was announced there would be a 60-game MLB season this year, the Giants found themselves making waves on Twitter. The Athletic's Jim Bowden reported Tuesday that the Giants "are expected to be players" for free-agent outfielder Yasiel Puig once the roster freeze is lifted. Teams have to submit their 60-man taxi squad rosters by Sunday.
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Puig, who was one of the Giants' biggest rivals in recent history when he played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, would fill a massive power hole in the lineup. But broadcaster Mike Krukow doesn't see how Puig fits on the roster.
“I don’t really see where they can use him, because they don’t need a DH,” Krukow said Wednesday on KNBR's "Murph & Mac" show.
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Instead of adding Puig, who hit 24 home runs between the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds last season, Krukow believes the Giants already have options for a DH, which is coming to the NL for the first time this season. Before Bowden's report, Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said they likely would stay in-house for their DH.
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Manager Gabe Kapler loves to platoon players, and Krukow sees plenty of options on the roster for the skipper.
"Darin Ruf, he’s the guy that had a great spring and he’s the guy who’s coming out of Korea with really some good numbers the last couple years and we were all excited about him. I think, ‘Hey, there’s your DH, or Hunter Pence.’ How’d he do as DH last year with the Rangers? Well, he made the All-Star team. And then you’ve got Pablo coming back, he’s gonna be ready to go. So there’s a guy who hits from the left side.
"So I don’t really know where you need Puig. You don’t need him defensively. ... You got defense, and with the expanded roster that's where you can really help yourself. You can have an offensive side of your outfield and you can have a defensive side. So I don't really see where they actually need Puig."
Puig had a -0.5 dWAR last season and zero Defensive Runs Saved. He also only has been a DH twice in his career and once last season, even though he played 49 games for an AL team in 2019.
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The Giants also have a long list of outfielders they want to get playing time, including younger players like Jaylin Davis.
If Puig did join the Giants, Krukow says he would "have no problem with it" and that it would "be great theatre" when they face Madison Bumgarner and the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Even with no fans in the stands, Puig would bring a spark and flair to the Giants, along with his powerful bat. Anything can happen in this weird year, even Puig wearing orange and black.