Dodgers manager Don Mattingly benched Yasiel Puig at the start of the fifth inning of last night's 4-0 victory over the Cubs, and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says it was the right call. Mattingly gained respect in his clubhouse by benching the 22-year-old, said one Dodgers player. The player added that Puig also gained respect by taking the advice of the club's veterans and accepting responsibility in his postgame chat with the media. Here's more out of the NL West..
- Hunter Pence told Andrew Baggarly of CSNBayArea.com (on Twitter) that he'd still pass up free agency to sign a multi-year deal with the Giants, but the club hasn't brought him anything yet. Pence has made no secret of his preference to re-up with the Giants rather go out on the open market.
- Robinson Cano's bid for big bucks is hurt by hints that the Dodgers might not be totally flush with cash after they lock up Clayton Kershaw to a new deal, writes Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com in his list of the top 50 free agents for this offseason. The top ten includes three NL West representatives: Ricky Nolasco of the Dodgers and Tim Lincecum and Pence of the Giants.
- The Dodgers signed Edinson Volquez as another option for the backend of the rotation, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the struggling Chris Capuano will be bumped, writes Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times. The Dodgers might use Volquez as a sixth starter at least once to give the other starters an extra day of rest.
