Toronto team signs Yasiel Puig, despite potential prison sentence looming

Venezuela's Yasiel Puig celebrates after a single against the Dominican Republic during the fourth inning of the Caribbean Series finals baseball game, in Miami, Fla., Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

The Toronto Maple Leafs of the Canadian Baseball League signed former Major League Baseball All-Star Yasiel Puig for the 2026 season.

How long his tenure with the team will last is up to Judge Dolly ​M. Gee in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in ‌Los Angeles. Puig is scheduled to be sentenced May 26 following his February conviction on one count each of obstruction of justice and making false statements to federal officials in connection with an investigation into illegal sports gambling.

Law enforcement was looking ​into a Southern California illegal bookmaking operation with which Puig placed hundreds of bets. The U.S. ​Attorney’s Office of the Central District of California said Puig lost nearly $1 million, ⁠which he never paid, for unsuccessful bets on football, basketball and tennis.

The 35-year-old Puig faces up to ​15 years in prison, though the sentence could be much lighter.

Puig’s issues did not stop the Maple Leafs ​from signing what the Toronto Star said was the largest contract in league history, though numbers were not divulged.

Maple Leafs CEO Keith Stein told the newspaper that Puig is an A-plus addition.

“We think he’s the most exciting player in men’s baseball ​who’s not playing in MLB right now,” Stein said. “And we think he’s better than a lot of ​guys who are in MLB, so we can’t believe our good fortune.”

Puig became an overnight sensation when, as a charismatic ‌rookie outfielder ⁠with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013, he hit .319 with 19 home runs and 42 RBIs in 104 games after his June 3 promotion from the minor leagues. Despite missing the first two months of the season, he finished second in National League Rookie of the Year voting to the late Jose Fernandez, ​a pitcher for the Miami ​Marlins.

Puig was an All-Star ⁠in 2014, but by 2018, the Dodgers were ready to part with him after tiring of his on-field antics and off-field trouble. He was traded to ​the Cincinnati Reds in 2019, and that team quickly flipped him to Cleveland, ​with pitcher ⁠Trevor Bauer changing cities as part of the trade.

In 2020, Puig was ready to sign as a free agent with the Atlanta Braves, but the deal was off when he tested positive for COVID-19. Since then, he has ⁠played ​in a variety of countries, including Korea, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic ​and Mexico.

In the major leagues, the Cuban defector hit .277 with 132 home runs, 415 RBIs and 79 stolen bases.

Puig is expected to ​be in the lineup for the Maple Leafs when they open the season on May 10.