Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder reportedly was involved in an altercation with a bouncer at a Miami bar on Wednesday night.
The speculation was the latest bump in the road during an offseason that had already been unkind to Puig.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman called on the outfielder to lose weight this winter, while Andy Van Slyke implied Clayton Kershaw suggested the team trade Puig.
Moreover, it was recently reported Dodgers ownership is more open to trading the dynamic 24-year-old than they have been year’s prior.
As for Puig’s scuttle in Miami, he will be subject to an investigation by Major League Baseball under the overhauled domestic violence policy that was implemented in August, according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times:
Yasiel Puig will be investigated by the commissioner’s office under Major League Baseball’s new domestic violence policy after an incident at a Miami bar Wednesday night.
While Puig isn’t yet out of the woods as far as the league is concerned, neither he nor the bouncer will press charges. The Dodgers outfielder is said to have come away from the incident with a swollen eye, and the bouncer a busted lip.
As for the allegation the incident stemmed from Blue Martini staff members interjecting after Puig got physical with his sister, Major Delrish Moss of the Miami Police Department refuted the notion:
“No shoving was alleged. To the best of our knowledge, the only physical altercation was between the bouncer and Puig.”
Puig is the second player to be investigated under MLB’s new domestic violence policy. Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes was arrested on Oct. 31 in Hawaii on charges of domestic violence.
He was released after posting $1,000 bail and pleaded not guilty earlier in the week. Under the policy MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has complete authority to determine the length of punishment for players for “just cause.”
Additionally, Manfred can suspend a player with pay while legal proceedings are taking place. The policy does not explicitly state maximum or minimum penalties that Manfred is permitted to hand down.
