Dodgers: Five teams for Yasiel Puig as MLB considers universal DH

If Major League Baseball institutes a universal designated hitter in 2020, former Los Angeles Dodgers star Yasiel Puig could be in high demand.

Based on an unconfirmed report, Yasiel Puig is reportedly close to signing with the San Francisco Giants, and if that is true, perhaps he should reconsider. With MLB and the player’s union considering a proposal for the 2020 season that would include a universal designated hitter, Puig might find a few more teams are interested in his services … including the Dodgers? We will get to that in a minute.

While a reporter with ties to the Cuban baseball community has Puig joining the Giants when the smoke settles in planning for a 2020 season amid the coronavirus pandemic, others with sources close to the team are less sure.

Whatever was unofficially agreed to or not in the past, a new market might exist for the flashy outfielder if a universal DH is enacted for the 2020 season.

Puig is no longer the fielder he once was, but he can still hit.

It was a bit surprising to see Puig go through the entire offseason without finding a new home. He claims he had several offers. For the Reds and Indians last year, he slashed .267/.327/.458 with plenty of power still in his bat (24 home runs). While Puig saw his power lose steam after being traded to Cleveland for the final 49 games of the season, he dramatically improved his overall hitting, lifting his average to .297 with the Indians.

If MLB institutes a designated hitter in the National League, there are several teams that might look to Puig as an extra bat to add to their lineup.

Let’s review the options, finishing with whether he makes sense for the Dodgers.