Yasiel Puig Rumors: Giants Expected to Have Interest in Signing OF to Contract

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The San Francisco Giants are reportedly interested in signing veteran outfielder Yasiel Puig, according to Jim Bowden of CBS Sports. 

According to Jayson Stark of The Athletic, the transactions freeze that was put in place while the season was on hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to be lifted Friday at noon ET. That means free agents like Puig will be free to sign with teams at that point. 

Puig is the biggest name on the market, so it won't be surprising if other teams have some interest in his services as well. And signing in San Francisco would make for a fascinating pairing, to say the least. Puig isn't exactly well-liked by Giants fans.

As NBC Bay Area wrote in its list of “Giants' top five most hated opponents in recent history” (Puig came in at No. 2):

“Early in his career, he became the enemy of Madison Bumgarner, one of the best and most popular players in franchise history, and Puig fully embraced his role in that rivalry. He even managed to get under Nick Hundley's skin somehow. Puig is the most booed player at Oracle Park over the last decade and it's not even close…”

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Bumgarner on Puig’s homer on a fastball in: “He’s a quick study. It only took him seven years to learn how to hit that pitch.”

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But the Giants also need power from the right side of the plate and an upgrade in the outfield. Puig, as unpopular as he might be in San Francisco, would check both boxes. 

The 29-year-old hit .267 with 24 homers, 84 RBI and 76 runs between Cleveland and the Cincinnati Reds last season. Puig would have led the 2019 Giants in homers and been second in RBI.  

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