MLB Network came out with their top 10 right fielders going into the 2019 season, and former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig checked in at No. 7 on The Shredder’s list, and No. 10 on analysts Brian Kenney’s and Cliff Floyd’s lists.
Puig is coming off one of his best offensive seasons with the Dodgers, hitting .267/.327/.494 with 23 home runs and 63 RBI in 125 games. He did all of that while also playing Gold-Glove caliber defense.
With only one year left on his contract though, the Dodgers did not necessarily view Puig in their future plans. Because of that, Puig was recently traded to the Cincinnati Reds along with Matt Kemp, Alex Wood and Kyle Farmer for Homer Bailey and prospects Jeter Downs and Josiah Gray.
Also notably included on The Shredder’s list was Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees, who surprisingly earned the No. 1 spot over reigning American League MVP Mookie Betts of the Boston Red Sox.
National League MVP Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers followed them, while free agent Bryce Harper was not far behind in the No. 5 spot.
Harper got off to a rough start to the 2018 season but was able to finish strong and wound up slashing .249/.393/.496 with 34 home runs and 100 RBI in 159 games.
The 26-year-old is now a free agent and has been on the Dodgers’ radar, although they are believed to not be willing to offer him the 10-year contract that he and agent Scott Boras are searching.
Who will be playing right field for the Dodgers come Opening Day is still a mystery, although the candidates include Harper, top prospect Alex Verdugo, free agent A.J. Pollock as well as a few other trade and free agent candidates.
If the Dodgers were to sign Pollock, who they have been linked to, then he and Cody Bellinger would play center and right field, or vice versa.
| Rank | The Shredder | Brian Kenny | Cliff Floyd |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aaron Judge (NYY) | Mookie Betts (BOS) | Mookie Betts (BOS) |
| 2 | Mookie Betts (BOS) | Aaron Judge (NYY) | Christian Yelich (MIL) |
| 3 | Christian Yelich (MIL) | Bryce Harper (FA) | Aaron Judge (NYY) |
| 4 | Mitch Haniger (SEA) | Christian Yelich (MIL) | Mitch Haniger (SEA) |
| 5 | Bryce Harper (FA) | Mitch Haniger (SEA) | Bryce Harper (FA) |
| 6 | Brandon Nimmo (NYM) | Eloy Jimenez (CHW) | Stephen Piscotty (OAK) |
| 7 | Yasiel Puig (CIN) | Brandon Nimmo (NYM) | Nick Castellanos (DET) |
| 8 | Andrew McCutchen (PHI) | Gregory Polanco (PIT) | Nick Markakis (FA) |
| 9 | Nick Castellanos (DET) | Andrew McCutchen (PHI) | Andrew McCutchen (PHI) |
| 10 | Stephen Piscotty (OAK) | Yasiel Puig (CIN) | Yasiel Puig (CIN) |
