According to a message Puig posted in Spanish on his personal X account, he is asking MLB for a second chance, saying, “I hope that one day @mlb can open opportunities for me as they have for others who have been suspended,” referencing his suspension, which has been one of the harshest in recent years.

The Cuban player pointed out that, despite the criticism against him, he was never suspended for actions similar to those of other players off the field. “Many will say things about me that aren’t true, but I ask them to consider one thing: I was never suspended for reasons off the field,” he stated.

Finally, the former Dodgers, Reds, and Guardians player affirmed that he will never stop seeking justice for being denied the chance to return to the majors. “I ask for justice to be served someday. I will never give up.”

Did Julio Urías and Yasiel Puig Play Together on the Dodgers?

Yes, Urías and Puig played together during several seasons with the Dodgers. The Mexican pitcher joined the team in 2016, while the Cuban outfielder had been with the organization since 2013. It’s worth noting that Urías played a limited role during that time as he was just beginning his professional career.

Why Has Yasiel Puig Not Returned to MLB?

Puig’s problems reportedly started as early as 2013, according to his personal Wikipedia page, but it wasn’t until 2021 that an ESPN investigation accused him of a significant assault. He eventually resolved the lawsuit out of court and expressed his desire to return to MLB in 2022. Additionally, that same year, Puig was accused of lying to federal officers in a separate case.

After his escape from Cuba, Yasiel began to build his life in the United States but from the first year he was in the United States the problems began, in 2013 he was charged with reckless driving and speeding in Tennessee.

Yasiel is unlikely to return to MLB in 2023 especially after his new issue with the feds. This time things could be worse for him, as federal agents are accusing him of being a liar in an illegal sports betting case.

How did Yasiel Puig lie to the feds?

According to the DOJ information, Yasiel Puig agreed to plead guilty to the felony charge for lying to Federal Agents investigating illegal gambling operation. In a few words, the investigators asked him if he made sports bets to which Yasiel Puig lied, saying that he had nothing to do with it.

But the agents had all the information, including the text messages between Yasiel Puig and another person who made sports bets for him. In addition, the investigators had all the evidence about a payment of $200,000 dollars that Yasiel made to pay a gambling debt with the owner of the illegal sports betting website, called Wayne Joseph Nix.

All this matter happened in 2019, Puig would have bet about 899 times in multiple sports such as tennis, football and basketball using Nix’s illegal website. Puig lied multiple times about his connection to the person who placed some bets on him despite agents confronting him with photos of the text messages.

Puig will pay a $55,000 fine and his initial appearance is scheduled for November 15, 2022.

Puig remained a free agent for most of last year and a positive Covid-19 test prevented him from signing with the Atlanta Braves. Now, The Wild Horse looks poised and healthy enough to make a comeback.

And, even though his untameable character and outspoken personality have always been a bit of a red flag, it seems like the Cuban outfielder is drawing plenty of interest among the New York Yankees, Miami Marlins, and Kansas City Royals, according to insider Jim Bowden.

Yankees, Marlins, And Royals Are Interested In Signing Yasiel Puig

The rumors of the Yankees’ interest in Puig have risen over the past couple of days, leading a lot of people to wonder whether they’ll actually bring back fan-favorite Brett Gardner for another season:

“The Yankees currently have a number of outfield options under contract, including Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks, Clint Frazier, Mike Tauchman, and Giancarlo Stanton, though Stanton is more typically used as a DH. Puig could provide the Yankees with some depth, especially if they don’t re-sign free agent Brett Gardner,“read a report by Yahoo! Sports.

Yasiel Puig has a career slash line of.277/.348/.475 and there are no doubts about his talent and offensive expertise. He can definitely make an impact right away on any team he chooses to sign with.

Then again, his personality and maturity will always raise some questions, and the New York Yankees don’t seem to need another outfielder right now given how stacked they are on those positions right now but hey, one thing’s for sure: he deserves another chance.

Now, however, after not making a single appearance in last year’s shortened season, it seems like The Wild Horse could be on his way back to The Big Show, according to MLB.com’s Thomas Harrigan.

As a matter of fact, MLB.com’s latest report claims that there are as many as five ballclubs interested in signing Yasiel Puig ahead of next season, including the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.

Yankees, Red Sox, Astros, Marlins, And Orioles Want To Sign Yasiel Puig

“Free-agent outfielder Yasiel Puig has multiple suitors, with the Yankees, Red Sox, Astros, Marlins and Orioles showing varying levels of interest in the 30-year-old, sources told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. After producing 24 homers with a .785 OPS (99 OPS+) between the Reds and Indians in 2019, Puig didn’t appear in the Majors last season. A reported deal with the Braves fell through in July after he tested positive for COVID-19,” the report read.

There’s no doubt that Yasiel Puig is incredibly talented and physically gifted. No one can deny his traits as a baseball player and he can make an immediate impact on any team with his offense.

Then again, Puig has often been tied to multiple controversies and his untamable character has raised a lot of questions about him over the years, and that’s why he remained unsigned for most of last season.

Puig is currently playing for theToros del Este in the Dominican Winter League while he continues to work and stay ready for the start of the next MLB season, and it seems like it’s just a matter of time before he’s back in business.