Odds Favor Puig Remaining with Cincinnati Reds After Trade Deadline; Yankees Given 3-1 Odds

• Yasiel Puig is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season
• Odds favor the 28-year-old staying in Cincinnati beyond the 2019 trade deadline
• The Yankees are considered a top suitor but seem more likely to trade for starting pitching
  

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In a trade market that is short on impact bats, Reds OF Yasiel Puig is a player contenders have started making calls on as the deadline nears.

Oddsmakers give the incumbent Reds the shortest odds to be Puig’s team after the July 31 trade deadline, but by setting Cincinnati at +130, they also believe it’s more likely than not that he is moved somewhere.

Where Will Yasiel Puig Play Post-2019 Trade Deadline?

*odds taken 7/26.

The 28-year-old outfielder could be a useful piece for a contender looking to add some pop and depth to their lineup. For the purpose of this exercise, let’s cross the Cincinnati Reds off the list. I do believe they’ll move him and make good on the asset. I don’t, however, believe it’s the Yankees who will get him and here’s why.

https://twitter.com/CincyRedsTalk/status/1152220135500988417

Yankees Have Needs But An Outfield Bat Isn’t One

The Yankees starting pitching is in shambles. After another rough outing from Masahiro Tanaka, GM Brian Cashman is sure to be making calls on the likes of Marcus Stroman, Madison Bumgarner, Mike Minor, etc.

With that being the priority, I just don’t see New York using their assets to make a move for another outfielder.

Masahiro Tanaka was shelled for 12 runs in 3.1 IP in Boston. He's the first Yankees pitcher to allow 12 runs in a game since Red Ruffing in 1939. 😬

📊 https://t.co/NWq0KR3NbJ pic.twitter.com/9Dt4fcG8Wd

— StatMuse (@statmuse) July 26, 2019

Puig has nice numbers this season with 22 home runs and 59 runs batted in (and that’s in spite of a dreadful first month or so), but I don’t see the Bronx Bombers will be willing to pay a premium to land him.

With so few bats on the market, a low-ball offer won’t be enough to get the deal done. The Yankees are much more likely to spend their ammo on bolstering their floundering starting rotation.

Is Oakland The Best Fit For Puig?

The Athletics haven’t garnered much attention since they sit eight games back of the Houston Astros in the AL West, but they quietly occupy the second Wild-Card spot in the AL, half a game up on a Tampa team that just lost ace Blake Snell for the foreseeable future.

Oakland’s run differential of +78 is one run shy of Tampa for being the best in the American League of any non-division leader. In more simple terms, they have a realistic shot at the playoffs.

Often times, players get crossed off the A’s list because of contract concerns but this one shapes up perfectly. Puig is on an affordable contract that expires at the end of the season. If they don’t want to pay him, they don’t have to; they can let him walk.

Landing a necessary power bat that they could plug and place in the middle of the lineup without having any future liabilities (beyond the loss of whatever prospects they’d have to give up in a deal) is perfect for Oakland.

Better still? You can get +400 on the Athletics.

PICK: Oakland Athletics (+400)

SBD’s Trade Deadline Coverage

• Odds Say Yankees Won’t Move Clint Frazier Before Trade Deadline
• Odds Heavily Favor Freddy Galvis Still Being a Blue Jay After MLB Trade Deadline
• Odds on Noah Syndergaard’s Team After Trade Deadline: Mets Heavily Favored to Keep Pitcher, Yankees Given 6-1 Odds
• Red Sox Given +110 Odds to Acquire Ken Giles Before Trade Deadline, Braves Listed at 9-4
• Odds Favor Hunter Pence Being Traded to Tampa Bay Rays Before Trade Deadline; Red-Hot Giants at +500