The biggest free agent on the MLB board finally inked with a new team on Tuesday, as Yasiel Puig agreed to a deal with the Atlanta Braves according to multiple media reports.
Puig, one of the biggest stars in Major League Baseball since his debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers back in 2013, will join a Braves team that saw veteran outfielder Nick Markakis opt out of the 2020 season earlier this month due to concerns related to the coronavirus.
The former Dodgers star, who spent 2019 with the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians, had patiently been looking for a new deal all winter before COVID-19 sent teams into a complete transactional stop after Spring Training was cancelled and players and staff members were sent home back in March.
The flamboyant outfielder, the owner of a career .277 batting average along with 132 home runs, is expected to be yet another piece in the Braves’ lineup, considered to be one of the most dangerous starting nines in the league.
Puig, a 29-year-old player native of Cuba, had a bit of a down season last year. He batted .267 with 24 home runs, but struggled defensively.
The Braves will hope that Puig is able to harness the talent that has made him one of the league’s biggest offensive threats in recent years and help propel them to a third straight NL East title, and maybe more.
