The Los Angeles Dodgers believed Yasiel Puig would be a much more integral aspect of their roster in 2015, but a campaign filled with injuries and poor play refuted that notion. Now more trade rumors are surrounding the young outfielder.
Puig, 24, was not traded when the Dodgers overhauled their new front office with Andrew Friedman taking over as president and Farhan Zaidi being named general manager last offseason. Instead, the club tried to trade Andre Ethier, but couldn't find any suitors because of his onerous contract.
Considering Ethier and Carl Crawford are not tradable assets and Joc Pederson probably isn't going anywhere, is it likely the team finally aggressively explores deals involving Puig after another seemingly underachieving season?
"Puig is a source of major concern. One thing that's agreed upon, there's a monster waiting to burst out, and perhaps the Dodgers should kill him with kindness rather than trying to kick him in the butt so much," writes Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. "One major league source said, 'You have to treat this guy like [Tony] La Russa treated [Jose] Canseco. You know he's going to be late once in a while and do things you don't want him do. But handle it in-house. Don't let that he's a bad boy leak out all over the place. He has major tools. He could put up big numbers if he's allowed to be himself.' Yet those who are around him every day feel he has to conform."
Perhaps the fact that Puig has "conformed" is a reason for his declining play. Yes, he was injured for a lot of the season, but he failed to perform when he was on the field. He batted just .255/.322/.436 with 30 runs scored, 11 home runs and 38 RBIs in 79 games and made only one start against the New York Mets in the NLDS.
"Even on better behavior in 2015, Puig often remained outside the Dodgers mainstream," writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post. "The bigger problem is that he lost value, both to the Dodgers and within the industry. In an elimination game Thursday, Puig never even made it to the on-deck circle."
He was especially not good against right-handed pitching, which is likely a significant problem in the Dodgers' eyes. Puig batted .248/.302/.402 with six home runs in 214 at-bats against right-handers this season.
Nonetheless, he's still signed under a fairly team-friendly contract based on his age and how he's capable of playing. He's just been unable to harness his ability since the first half of 2014. Rumors suggest if the Dodgers are open to moving him, other MLB clubs could be interested. However, his demand will not be nearly as high as it once was.
"He is signed reasonably from 2016-18 for $19.5 million, so teams will have interest," Sherman added. "But what can be expected in return has shriveled. Beyond attitude concerns, other teams also see what worries the Dodgers - that Puig is thickening, which is not only a potential catalyst for further injury, but could slowly erode the quick-twitch explosiveness in his bat and running that made Puig seem such a star in the making just 12-to-24 months ago."
The Dodgers were one of the most active teams on the trade market last offseason and it's hard to believe they won't be this year after another early exit from the playoffs. Look out for Puig to be the topic of trade rumors when the postseason comes to an end.
