Dodgers: Yasiel Puig turns down KBO offer, per report

Former Los Angeles Dodgers star Yasiel Puig is still waiting to see where he might play this season.

South Korea’s Kiwoom Heroes tried and failed to sign former Los Angeles Dodgers star Yasiel Puig this week, according to a report out of South Korea. The Heroes play in the KBO league, which resumed play in early May in the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic.

“We felt we had a chance to sign him but he decided to give MLB another shot in 2020,” said the Heroes general manager.

As major league players consider alternative options to earn income and play baseball while MLB owners and players negotiate a framework for a potential 2020 season, Puig reportedly had “absolutely no interest” in playing in Korea.

Instead of signing Puig, the Heroes agreed to a contract with former Cubs shortstop Addison Russell.

Yasiel Puig remains a free agent

Puig is a free agent waiting to see what happens with the 2020 MLB season before deciding on where he will play. There were reports that he was close to a deal with the San Francisco Giants, but it doesn’t appear the 2014 National League All-Star has made up his mind yet.

“We are waiting to see what’s going on about the season this year,” Puig said on the Petros and Money show on Friday. “I don’t know if there’s going to be a [2020] season, but I’m going to be ready.”

After leaving the Dodgers in 2018, the Cuban star played for the Cincinnati Reds before being traded to Cleveland last season. While he struggled with his power in his short stint in the American League (only 2 home runs in 49 games), he found his overall swing again by hitting .297/.377/.423 with the Indians. He had been struggling with a .252 average in Cincinnati before the trade.

While negotiations between the players and owners are far from settled, it appears there could be a universal DH instituted this season and next, which would open more opportunities for Puig to offer his services.

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On the anniversary of Puig’s first game with the Dodgers, the outfielder posted a powerful message about racism in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man killed by white police officers in Minnesota.