The drama and intrigue centered around the Los Angeles Dodgers and Yasiel Puig has not yet come to an end despite Puig currently residing with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Although it was reported the Dodgers were attempting to ‘give away’ Puig, that has since been refuted. Los Angeles is said to have rejected trade offers, and aren’t completely set on parting with their 25-year-old outfielder.
Even with some off-field concerns, fact of the matters is Puig is a tantalizing talent who has taken his demotion in stride and had success with Oklahoma City.
In 15 games since being sent to the Minors, he’s batting .386/.435/.667 with two doubles, four home runs and 12 RBI.
While the Dodgers may not be sold on a decision to trade Puig, that doesn’t necessarily translate to him rejoining the Major League club this season, per Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball:
While a Dodgers-connected person labeled it “doubtful” he’d appear with the Dodgers’ major-league team again this year, the Dodgers remain cognizant of his youth and extraordinary talent, which if anything has been re-affirmed in his brief stay so far with Triple-A Oklahoma City, where Puig has a slash line of .419/.479/.721.
After being demoted, Puig was the subject of controversy when he posted videos to his Snapchat story of him and his teammates dancing, singing, and doing other activities you’d expect from 20-something-year-olds on a party bus.
Since the incident Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman met and spoke with Puig, and called their conversation “very good.” Friedman previously spoke optimistically of what can come of Puig’s time in the Minors, though the outfielder’s future with the organization hardly appears to be on solid footing.
