Reds news: Yasiel Puig turns down KBO offer, per report

Yasiel Puig reportedly turned down an offer from the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO.

Is miss Yasiel Puig, and I’m sure that I’m not alone in that sentiment. According to a report from Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the former Cincinnati Reds outfielder turned down an opportunity to play for the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO. Instead, the Heroes signed for Chicago Cubs infielder Addison Russell.

In December of 2018, Puig joined the Reds along with former Los Angeles Dodgers teammates Matt Kemp, Kyle Farmer and Alex Wood. All but Farmer have moved on from Cincinnati. Puig was traded to the Cleveland Indians, along with top prospect Taylor Trammell, in the deal that brought Trevor Bauer to the Queen City.

While that deal was made with an eye on the 2020 season, the coronavirus pandemic has robbed the Reds of several starts from the former Indians. In fact, if the season is a wash, either because of the coronavirus pandemic or the squabbles between owners and players over money, Cincinnati would’ve traded away its No. 1 prospect for 10 starts from Trevor Bauer.

Puig became a free agent following the 2019 season, and despite a solid performance at the dish, the right-handed slugger never found a home over the winter. The Reds could’ve reunited with Puig in free agency, but instead decided to invest in Japanese outfielder Shogo Akiyama and last year’s leader in doubles, Nick Castellanos.

Rumors swirled earlier this offseason about the Miami Marlins as a potential landing spot for the mercurial Puig, but nothing ever materialized. Puig is still without a team, and all Major League Baseball transactions are currently frozen. So, even if a team wanted to sign Yasiel Puig, they couldn’t.

As recent as April, the San Francisco Giants were rumored to have an interest in Yasiel Puig as well. If and when baseball is able to begin operations once more, I think Puig will find a home relatively quickly, especially with the likely addition of a universal DH. Puig’s bat has always been his calling card, but he has a cannon for an arm as well.

While some Cincinnati Reds fans would prefer the team to have never traded Yasiel Puig, the Wild Horse remains unbridled at the moment. Despite no longer wearing a Reds uniform, Puig is still our friend, right?