Braves Acquire Puig, Atlanta’s 2020 World Series and NL East Odds Unchanged

• The Atlanta Braves signed free-agent outfielder Yasiel Puig today
• Puig will fill the spot in the lineup vacated by Nick Markakis, who is sitting out the 2020 season due to health risks
• From World Series futures to win totals to divisional odds, the Puig addition hasn’t moved the needle one whit

Yasiel Puig was arguably the biggest free-agent fish still swimming in the pond with the start of the 2020 MLB season less than ten days away.

The 29-year-old Cuban has been reeled him by the Atlanta Braves on one-year contract, details still TBA.

The signing makes perfect sense.  The Braves recently lost outfielder Nick Markakis when the veteran opted to sit out the 2020 season due to health risks posed by COVID-19.

Oddsmakers didn’t really take notice, however. Their World Series odds, Pennant odds, and NL East odds remain the same as this morning. At FanDuel, the Braves’ 2020 win total moved from 33.5 (-110o/-110u) to (-116o/-106u). Breathtaking.

Atlanta Braves 2020 Futures Odds

Odds as of 7:07 pm ET, July 14.

The apathy from oddsmakers is warranted. A former top prospect who enjoyed some solid years with the LA Dodgers, Puig’s production has tailed off a little in recent years.

Last season, he slashed just .267/.327/.458, well down from his career averages of .277/.348/.475. Indeed, sportsbooks are likely taking very little notice because he was basically on par with Markakis last year. They didn’t bump Atlanta down when Markakis announced he’s sitting out, and they’re not really bumping them up the Puig added to the roster.

It’s not even clear how much playing time he’s going to get. The ATL outfield is largely set with Ronald Acuna Jr, Marcell Ozuna, and Ender Inciarte set to get most of the starts. Veteran Adam Duvall is also waiting in the wings.