Indians Trade Targets: Yasiel Puig

Like Marcell Ozuna, who Kevin Gall profiled earlier in the week, Yasiel Puig is a young outfielder who is currently going through some conflict with management. While this attitude should be a red flag, it may be the thing that devalues these players enough that their teams would be willing to part with them. In fact, like Ozuna, Puig was one of the players that trade deadline rumors centered around in Cleveland.

There are, however, many differences between the two outfielders, particularly when you consider proven ability and with it, cost. While Ozuna has yet to really take off in the Majors and spent much of 2015 in AAA, Puig is a proven star. He has played significantly for three seasons (although he missed much of 2015 with injury, another risk) and accrued an 11.3 WAR, 5.9 of that coming in his first full season in 2014.

He has played all three outfield positions, but can’t really be expected to man center, where the Indians most need improvement. There, he holds a career -11 UZR/150 while he has been worth +5 in right. He hasn’t played enough in left to get a real read on it, but that is likely where he would end up if the Indians were able to obtain him. One reason for this is that he wouldn’t be a great platoon option with Chisenhall given that he is such a better hitter overall. While Chisenhall’s wRC+ was slightly higher (101) in 2015 than Puig’s (96) over his career, the right handed hitting Puig has been equally dominant against all pitchers. Of course if somehow the Indians were able to add two top talent outfielders, Chisenhall could be moved to more of a bench role, but it is unlikely that they will even be able to obtain one Puig level talent.

In addition to that increased talent is the increased cost. First, Puig is guaranteed $24.64M over his next three years, a significantly greater price tag than most players his age because of his method of acquisition. Taking the risk to come from Cuba, Puig needed a guarantee, so he was signed through all but his final year of arbitration. While most 24 year old outfielders the Indians could use to fill in the outfield, whether it be Ozuna or Tyler Naquin, would cost near league minimum, Puig’s extended Major League playing time early in his career and his guaranteed money make him much more expensive.

In addition to the cost in dollars, which isn’t much for a player of his caliber, but is a lot compared to the rest of the Indians roster, there is also the cost in talent. The Dodgers don’t have to move him as he could help them in their quest for the 2016 NL West title, although their deep outfield does make him expendable. Because of this and the many suitors they will likely have for Puig, his cost in talent could be the biggest problem.

Back in July, some of the rumors discussed involved the Indians sending Carlos Carrasco or Danny Salazar to LA and some around the league said even one of them wouldn’t be enough. While Chris Antonetti has stated that the Indians would trade from their pitching depth to improve the offense. To show how crazy this is, Carrasco has been worth 3.7 and 3.8 WAR the past two seasons, is cheaper financially than Puig ever single year of his deal and is under contract for one more year. To make it even better, both of his final two years of control are team options, so if he does fall off, there is no risk. Salazar isn’t under contract yet (they could work on this during the off-season), but is also under control through 2020 and could be even better than Carrasco.

The Indians should be willing to deal some pitchers, but if they are going to contend in 2015, they can’t deal from the top three of Corey Kluber, Carrasco or Salazar. Other players that could be intriguing to teams are Rob Kaminsky, Mike Clevinger, Cody Anderson and Adam Plutko among others, but none of these alone would net Puig, particularly since the Dodgers are looking to contend right now. Maybe they would be interested in a low ceiling pitcher, but MLB ready pitcher like Anderson if he were packaged with a more well thought of prospect, but then again the Indians would have to look at whether it was really worth it.

The Indians absolutely need an outfielder and realistically would be better off with two. The Michael Brantley injury further extends the situation as before, the Indians were looking for a platoon man to mix with Lonnie Chisenhall in right and a starting center fielder, but now they need Opening Day starters in left and center. Once he returns, it’s impossible to say whether or not Brantley will be able to play in the field or not and he may be best kept at DH most of the season. If that’s the case, a player like Puig or Ozuna would be a huge value.

If there was ever a time for the Indians to get away from their prospect hoarding ways, now is it, but this doesn’t extend to known players already in the Major Leagues. It would be almost impossible for the Tribe to return equal value for any of the top three, but luckily, those three make it possible for them to deal from the many starters that made there way to or through Akron last year including all those listed above as well as Shawn Morimando and Ryan Merritt. Not all these players are worthy of MLB talent, but the existence of the mid level prospects makes it possible to trade the high level ones away. It may not be enough for Puig, but it should be enough for someone and maybe someone who doesn’t have all the baggage that Puig comes with.