After multiple hamstring injuries limited Yasiel Puig to a career-worst 79 games in 2015, he was instructed by Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman to lose weight as a preventative measure to avoiding the recurring soft-tissue injury.
Couple with that was the organization hoping to reinvigorate their polarizing outfielder, who reportedly did not mesh well with former manager Don Mattingly. Dave Roberts helped mend the fences, and Puig drew rave reviews during Spring Training.
A strained left hamstring forced Puig to the DL in early June, but more prominently, he was demoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City after the Dodgers failed to trade the 25-year-old.
Puig returned in September and vowed to have learned from time spent in the Minors. He was an improved player on the field and better teammate in the clubhouse.
While Los Angeles ultimately got desired results from Puig down the stretch of the season, his standing with the organization hardly appears to be on solid footing.
Although Josh Reddick, who temporarily replaced Puig, is now with the Houston Astros, leaving a void in right field, the Dodgers reportedly remain open to trading Puig.
The Chicago White Sox are said to covet Puig, among others on the Dodgers roster. Puig has two years and $13 million remaining on the seven-year, $42 million contract he signed in June 2012.
The DodgerBlue.com staff was asked for their thoughts on whether he’ll be with the Dodgers come Opening Day of the 2017 season.
Matthew Moreno (@MMoreno1015)
I would be surprised if Puig remains with the Dodgers through the offseason. While he showed signs of a bounce-back season, consistency remains an issue. That being said, Puig appeared to again be on the upswing after returning from Oklahoma City.
And we’ve already seen the Dodgers sell high (Dee Gordon). You typically need to give up value to acquire value, and the Dodgers have to address their trouble against left-handed pitching. Also, there’s a need in the starting rotation.
Under the assumption the Dodgers’ preference is to continue stockpiling and developing young talent, coupled with Puig’s value, it would make sense that he’s traded.
Matt Borelli (@MattDodgerBlue):
At this point in the offseason, I believe it’s a 50-50 chance that Puig will be in a Dodgers uniform next season.
By slugging percentage and on-base plus slugging, he was the team’s most productive hitter against left-handed pitching in 2016. Not only that, but Puig ranked sixth in defensive runs saved among right fielders at +5 (minimum 650 innings) and has one of the best arms in the game.
On the other hand, Puig’s trade value might never be this high again, with just two years left on his contract. His improved play and behavior in September should make Puig an attractive option for teams seeking an outfield upgrade.
In August, Puig was nearly dealt to the Milwaukee Brewers for Ryan Braun, so I think that’s a potential trade to look out for in the coming weeks. Many expect the talks to be revisited at some point.
The White Sox are also said to be interested in Puig and have been linked to him since July. If the Dodgers could land one of their stars by including Puig in a deal, that would also be a no-brainer for the club.
Basically, I expect Puig to remain with the Dodgers unless they’re getting a significantly better player(s) in return. Otherwise, I think he remains with the team and at the very least serves as a quality platoon option.
Jeff Spiegel (@JeffSpiegel):
Puig is the biggest mystery/wild card this offseason. Will the Dodgers trade him? Will he rebound? Will he continue to struggle? Will he start? And, maybe most curious: how will he respond to whatever happens?
For me, I’d like to see Puig stick around for the simple reason that he’s cheaper than the alternatives. Oh, and he’s better too.
What was the Dodgers offense’s biggest problem last season? Hitting left-handers. Over the past three seasons, Puig has posted a .795 OPS against lefties in 315 at-bats. Given, that’s a relatively small sample size, but that’s because at one point the Dodgers had others who could hit lefties. Now they don’t, and Puig can help.
On top of this is Puig’s defense. Outside of Joc Pederson, there’s no one close to Puig defensively in right field — his speed, aggression and arm make him an excellent defensive asset in a league that places more and more emphasis on defense every year.
All this from someone who won’t coast more than $7.5 million a year in asalry for the next two seasons before one year of arbitration? Come on.
Eric Avakian (@AvakEric):
The Dodgers ultimately need to make a decision on Puig this offseason. Although it remains to be determined which course of action they will take, I believe Puig will be on the Dodgers come Opening Day.
I don’t know if the Dodgers will be able to land a return that will near the expectations they have in place. It seems as though Puig has been on the trading block since last winter.
Although Puig’s off-field antics are cause for concern, the Dodgers would be parting ways with one of the premiere athletes in Major League Baseball. Puig has dazzled since making his MLB debut, albeit in a highly inconsistent fashion.
The Cuban outfielder holds the skill set to embody a five-tool player, but has been unsuccessful in harnessing it all at once. Given Puig’s age and the fact that he’s under team control for three more seasons, he appears to be a trade chip with some value.
However, I believe the Dodgers should keep Puig as a starting outfielder for another season (until at least the non-waiver trade deadline).
Jared Massey (@JarredJMassey):
I don’t believe Puig will be with the Dodgers on Opening Day. The team reportedly came close to trading him to the Brewers at the trade deadline and, while re-signing all three of Rich Hill, Kenley Jansen and Justin Turner seems unlikely, trading for their replacements is a plausible solution.
Obviously, Puig’s value isn’t at its highest, but he should still fetch a solid return, particularly for help in the rotation or a right-handed hitter.
While the Dodgers could simply hold onto Puig and see if he rebounds, they’d probably rather acquire a more reliable player to help push them over the top in their search for a championship.
Daniel Starkand (@DStarkand):
I think the Dodgers parting with Puig would be beneficial for both parties involved, as Puig could use a change of scenery and a fresh start, and it is become apparent that he will never become the superstar on the Dodgers that they hoped he would be.
Despite this, I do believe he will still be with the team come Opening Day. It wouldn’t be too smart to just give up on Puig and trade him for a low-level prospect or two, which is may be what teams would be willing to offer at this time.
So if Puig is going to be traded, I think it would have to be part of a bigger package, either to the White Sox in a Chris Sale package or to the Tampa Bay Rays in an Evan Longoria package, or something of that nature.
The Dodgers front office has shown that they do not want to give up big-name prospects to acquire players of that caliber though, so I don’t see them making a big trade this offseason.
Meaning, Puig will remain with the team going into next season and possibly form a platoon with either Andre Ethier or Andrew Toles in right field. Then if he produces throughout next season his trade stock will go up.
