The Dodgers have informed rival clubs that they would be willing to move outfielder Yasiel Puig “in the right deal,” Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports on Twitter. Thus far, however, Los Angeles has received more trade inquiries on their higher-end prospects.
Puig was reportedly informed by the team recently that he would not be dealt. At the time, the report (from Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com) indicated that the team was not engaged in any trade talks regarding the somewhat controversial, but incredibly talented, 24-year-old.
All said, it still seems unlikely that anything will come together on Puig. He’s not playing up to his prior levels, but still owns a productive .253/.327/.423 slash over 217 plate appearances.
With a meager $4.5MM salary this year and three more years of control remaining for just $19.5MM, Puig’s contract has long looked like one of the game’s best bargains. (He can opt into arbitration once he reaches three years of service, but that would only potentially impact the last two years of the contract, since he entered the season with 1.119 years of MLB service, and any additional raises would obviously reflect his performance.) But his less-than-inspiring play this year and a variety of off-field issues have raised some questions about his true value.
For the Dodgers, parting with a high-end young asset would seem to be a stretch. But the team does have a wide variety of options in the outfield, with Andre Ethier playing at a high level, Joc Pederson emerging as a young star, Carl Crawford finally returning to action, and several strong platoon candidates under control.
Los Angeles figures to make a move for starting pitching, and has been said to be involved in a variety of scenarios. The team is apparently unwilling to part with its best prospects — infielder Corey Seager and pitcher Julio Urias being the two blue-chip pieces — but would surely have to give up young talent to add a quality, controllable arm. Rental arms are also under consideration, of course, and it remains to be seen how the team will proceed.
Carrasco for Puig… makes sense for both clubs. Indians need right handed power, Dodgers get a high upside starter who is on just as friendly of a contract.
Dodgers say no. Carrasco is too inconsistent.
And Puig is really consistent?
His upside is way higher than Carrasco. If you get 2 great seasons, and 2 bad seasons out of Puig, its still more valuable than Carrasco.
Have you the see periphreals on carrasco though ? His upside is FAR higher than his ERA indicates, i think its debatable.
Carrasco was a Phillies top pick they traded years back.. That “Promising” talent, has been taking a long time to develop. He’s overdue on the benefit of the doubt. Its getting make or break time for him, or he is what he is.
Carrasco’s upside is a #1 starter controlled for the next 6 years. Hes actually already pitching like a #1 starter.
And Puig’s UPSIDE is one of the best position players in the game. Why would you give that up for a guy who could turn into a no.1 and leave your lineup horribly exposed against LHP?
That’s fine to speculate on upside, but it goes both ways. What if you get four bad seasons from Puig and Carrasco’s rise continues for the next 3-4 years?
Hitters are more valuable than pitchers. Guy has an era over 4 never has really done anything amazing.
Not that it would happen, but I would do Puig for Hamels straight up…no cash from either side
Dodgers probably would too. Phillies wouldn’t.
he also has the 7th best xFIP in baseball
Sure, his ERA is over 4 but his FIP and xFIP are under 3. Carrasco has a k/9 over 10 and a BB/9 under 2 with a solid GB% of 49.8. There is plenty to suggest that he is a lot better than his ERA would indicate over the first half. To say he has never done anything amazing ignores that he had a 2.55 ERA, backed by the metrics, in 134 innings last year, he is a really underrated pitcher and exactly the type of starter teams should be trying to acquire.
If he was a Met he would be “untouchable” and have a cool nickname. All advanced stats put him ahead of every starter on that mets staff.
That’s all great and it’s true that he is the type of pitcher you should look to acquire but for a team with WS aspirations to trade away one of their best hitters (don’t quote me his slash line cos I know what it is and I actually don’t care, he’s better than what he has shown this year) just flat out doesn’t make sense. If the Dodgers trade for him it should be for guys off the farm.
its time to learn new stats
He has very good numbers though outside of his ERA. I think the Dodgers would very much consider such a deal. Carrasco might be somewhat inconsistent, but Puig has also been less productive this year.
I thought the indians would say no 😮
the problems have been the defense behind Carrasco and a lot of the Indians starters. The stats that tell the true story are his xFIP which is 7th in all of baseball, 21st in fWAR, 6th in SIERA. These are the stats that an analytical based front office looks at, not ERA. The Indians have 7 statues playing defense.
Carrasco & bradley or kipnis lol..
I would imagine that no prospect can be “off-limits” for a deal of this type, I would also imagine this could come into play in talks for Cole Hamels.
If puig was included in the hamels deal they wouldn’t have to part with leon, just lower prospects.
Puig is more valuable than Hamels straight up.
Not really. Both are 4+ WAR players, and the Dodgers are dealing from a strength to fix up a weakness.
The fact that Shane Victorino has been worth more WAR in 20 less games this year speaks volumes to Puig’s struggles.
Team seem to be paying for current production, so trading Puig now would be selling low.
Hes younger and cheaper for the same war. So yes he is more valuable. The clubhouse knock isnt good tho.
They are similar in WAR, but Puig is younger and WAY cheaper. Puig will make less in the next 3 seasons than Hamels will make in 2016 alone.
Pitchers and batters really can’t be compared, except for WAR, and even then it’s iffy. But no, Puig is not more valuable than Hamels.
Well, Pug makes about $15 million less than Hamels, so that kind of makes him more valuable, right? Similar WAR, but Hamels’ is $6 million per unit, Puig is $1.5 million.
Come on , Man. The Pug and has declined every year he’s been in Majors. Pitchers know how to pitch him now, Same Old Hollywood overhyped problem child!
Puig and De Leon for Price and Cespedes
lol come on bro really.
Why would the Dodgers do that..
Do you Dream about Stars at Night !
You’re really rude for like no reason at all.
Dodgers want a pitcher like syndergaard someone who is controllable.
Dodgers get Hamels
Phillies get Severino, Judge, Beltran and Gary Sanchez
Yankees get Puig, Papelbon
I know, its terrible. Would be fun though
And everybody gets all the more reason to hate the Yankees:)
I think a realistic possibility could be Lee and Puig for Hamels with Philly eating some of Hamels salary it would be a good deal for both sides especially considering the Dodgers would be dealing from one of their biggest strengths.
You think the Phillies getting a player who they would only control for 3 more years (when they won’t contend) AND paying part of Hamels salary would be a good deal for them!?
REALLY????????????????????
REALLY????????????????????
4 years* Hes arb eligible when his current 7 year deal is up. And who would say if they can compete in 3 years or not? Most of their talent (Crawford, Altherr, Nola, Franco, Giles, Eflin, Quinn, etc) should be up by the end on next year.
Puig is young and he would give them a young cost controlled outfielder who they could either extend (they could definitely afford it) or flip for prospects in a few years if their not contending. If they had Franco and Puig in the middle of their lineup there’s no telling what they could do. If your the Phillies why wouldn’t you take a shot on three years of Puig and try to build around him?
CJ Wilson and Nate Smith for Puig. Angels either eat more money or throw in another prospect
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Puig has the potential to be a top 5 position player in all of baseball and has shown flashes of that over the last few years. There’s no way they move him for anything less than an absolute stud and a controllable one at that
The Kid doesn’t have the mentality like a Mike Trout, Has the God Given Physical tools but is a Milton Bradley all over again,Which is Immature Child , Who is about as popular with Teammates as Hemorrhoids!
William, I created an account just to ask this question: why do you sprinkle random capital letters throughout your posts? It’s just the strangest thing and it’s distracting as heck.
I wonder if the Dodgers would be willing to do Tehran and prospect in the top 15-20 range for Puig. The Dodgers get a young pitcher in Tehran who could be your number 3 starts. The Braves get Pukg and that will fix the Braves outfield problem.
I prefer those mets pitchers more.
They would have to get a RH power bat inreturn otherwise they’re lineup would be useless against lefties. And probably a youngcontrollable pitcher as well
Exactly. Show us your lineup cards, gentleman. That’s the difference between the fantasy game and the real one.
Most overrated player imo. Sell high while they can
Sell high? The dude is straight sucking this year, easily the lowest his value has been in the bigs so far.
true but I don’t see him becoming the star everybody thinks he will become. I am no scout however so who knows
Puig for Hamels straight up…no cash from Phillies…would never happen bc philly most likely wants prospects…Amaro wouldn’t want to put all his eggs in one basket in Puig…too much a make or break
Why…do…people…do…this…
But really, Puig for Hamels straight up would be a no, at least from the Phillies. Hamels has an affordable contract, and Puig has an attitude.
Puig’s contract is $19.5 million over the next three seasons. Hamels’ is $67 million.
Affordable in comparison to other pitchers contracts. Price will be $200 million richer this winter. Cueto will be $100 million. Hamels will be a bargain.
Except you’re comparing value, right? Puig puts up a similar value, in terms of WAR, at a little over a quarter of the value in money. Hamels is a little cheaper than most similar pitchers, but Puig is absurdly cheaper than similar position players–and phenomenally more “affordable.” Few teams can take on Hamels’ contract. Every team can take on Puig’s.
Few teams? Uh… Let’s count the teams that could take on Hamels contract:
• Giants
• Red Sox
• Yankees
• Rangers
• Dodgers
• Diamondbacks
• Cubs
• Blue Jays
• Cardinals
And that’s if the Philies didn’t eat any of the contract. I feel that Hamels has more value mainly because of his accolades and track record, as well as the fact that he is a good clubhouse guy and a hard worker. As well as his good stats.
But the cardinals get a competitive balance pick how can they afford him!
Except they didn’t get one this year.
They did but traded it i thought?
It’s a lottery. All the CB team names go into a hopper.
They can’t.
I’m not sure those teams could take on that contract, particularly the Giants, D’back, BJays, and Cards. Those guys are pushing up against it, presently–especially with the Tulo deal.
Nonetheless, if you’re talking about value, Puig puts up a similar WAR for about a quarter of the price. Again, more value. I’m not sure how else to explain value in this situation.
Bad move for the Dodgers if they trade puig.They would have a bad defensive outfield ,Ethier is to slow and Crawford has a weak arm.
Puig, Grant Holmes and Julian Leon for Hamels and Papelbon?
Sounds like a fair trade you’ll get your future catcher. But papelbon that guy seems like a cancer.
Is he any worse than Puig in that department?
Puig has issues with teammates. Paps has a problem with the front office. Puig might actually be worse.
Definitely worse. He doesn’t have to see the front office every day, whereas Puig is sitting right next to the guys he has problems with.
Dodgers probably don’t do that.
Alright, what if the Phillies eat all of Pap’s contract and half of Hamels’?
Then one of holmes or de leon. Just because they want puig gone.
De Leon? I said Leon.
Then you are underestimating how much they want him gone if you pay half and get ghat back
Don’t think it changes it a ton. Money isn’t much of an issue for the Dodgers.
Puig for Chapman and Leak maybe a lower prospect
That might be the worst one I’ve seen. Puig could be had for Chapman alone, and as the Reds I wouldn’t even do that.
Dodgers should snag Dillon Gee from Mets AAA….he was designated for assignment a few weeks ago
In division trade Pads…Tyson Ross for Puig
I see a pattern of bad trade proposal made from users with no avatar.
Well, there’s a reason why we aren’t GMs
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Its all in good fun for me, at least. Obviously there is a good 95% chance that Puig doesn’t move, but its still fun to think of the possibilities.
Puig career OPS is 865. If he qualified he would be in the top 17 active in all of baseball. He has a the best arm by far in the league and plays above average D. He is controlled for 4 more years at a very cheap price. He also has as much upside as anyone who has ever played the game. The trades you are suggesting are so terrible. You guys clearly no nothing about baseball
Puig,Anderson to Mets
Montero,Hamels to Dodgers
Lee,Delon,Schieber and others to Phil’s
As much as I dislike Puig, are you saying that all the Mets need to give up to get him is Rafael Montero?
I could see the Dodgers and Marlins getting together for. David Phelps or Matt Latos or Bryan Morris (former dodger traded in Manny Ramirez trade)
Puig is a Problem Child add in Latos and , It would the Bronx Zoo West ! Greinke would be fighting both of them before seaon over !
Everyone was ripping on me in the off season when i was saying andre either is still an amazing outfielder despite his offensive woes last season. You give this guy regular at bats, this is what he produces. Year in, year out. And no, im not a dodger fan.
Mark is correct…I watch every Dodger game
well he not the power bat he once shown but he shown he still got something left in him.
If the Dodgers trade puig there defensively weaker in the outfield.
Trade him Now , While his Value is High !
Yes! A World Series contender should definitely trade a bonafide producer in an outfield whose backup is the great Carl Crawford and his .599 OPS! And everyone wants that contract of Ethier’s too!
1. Joc CF
2. Puig RF
3. A-Gon 1B
4. Kendrick 2B
5. Seager SS
6. Grandel C
7. Turner 3B
8. Crawford/Guerrero LF
9. Kershaw/Greinke/whoever they got for Ethier/everyone else
Puig drops to 7th…..Turner to 2nd….no brainer
Turner has been unbelievable. One of the best values in baseball, imho.
Only against Righties turner has been brutal against lefties this yr, last I saw he was hitting .180 against them
dodgers better get something good for puig if they do trade him, since it will suck if he does well with another team and the dodgers dont at least get decent talent in return
They better get a good return with that cheap contract…my fear is that the new management will make a saber metric trade…so far they swung and missed on Brandon Mcarthy, Joel Peralta
McCarthy needed TJ. Thats not swinging and missing due to sabermetrics. And so what if they make a sabermetric trade? The Royals won the American League with a sabermetric team last season.
My point was a lot of saber metric trades is seeing value where other teams/people don’t….you can make those trades with lesser prospects…Puig contract is well below market value and is somewhat proven as above average…I would use him as a chip to obtain a player whose value is not hidden in numbers….(ie: would I trade the #3 pick in the NBA draft for. Bunch of role players or use it on an impact player…the 3rd pick has an intrinsic value to it)
What is with all of the down votes? Odd.
terrible trade suggestions and opinions
On the old commenting system, if you didn’t like what a comment said, you replied and explain. Now people just down vote everything. Miss disqus honestly.
Yeah, I do too. I feel like your comment is taken less seriously with the number of downvotes you have. IMO, commenters should only be allowed to upvote.
Yep, not a fan of the down-vote as is. It almost feels like every comment is a popularity contest. At least with Disqus, if someone didn’t like what you said, they would have to comment and explain why, which feels a lot more constructive.
Everyone disagrees with everyone’s else’s opinions so the down button gets used a lot.
this might be a dumb trade but how about jon singleton and other pieces for puig. then you teach jon singleton to play the OF. but dodger might not want a unproven player.
Singleton’s value is way down because of his MLB numbers, plus the Phillies tried him in the outfield years back for 50 games or so because of Howard at 1B, didn’t work out well at all.
well good to know , but i can tell he could be a big power bat if he on his game. might be a .250 hitter but i can see he might be a 20 HR a year type of guy maybe more
I really can’t see the ‘Stros being interested in Puig. They seem to have a certain perference with their hitters, and Puig doesn’t seem to fit that mentality. Plus, they have a young core, and I feel they would want a media grabber like Yasiel as far away from them as possible, regardless of the talent.
it was just a random trade idea i thought of i really didnt think the astros would have a need for puig. i just think it would be fun to see what jon could do with the right coaching. he looks like a guy who could hit for decent power.
a decent trade for both sides price and yoenis cespedes for puig and other peices. dodgers get a decent power bat with a proven pitcher and tigers get younger
No happening. Cespedes and Price are both rentals.
If those two had at least a year of control then maybe but no way in the world do they give him away for a couple of rentals.
Sox should offer Jose Quintana for Puig, though I’d want more then just Puig.
They’d have to offer much more, though Quintana would be a start.
Nah extra year of control. Puig has the clubhouse hanging over him. Straight up its about as fair as you get.
Valid point but still, I’d feel ripped off if I was the Dodgers. Puig has immense talent, like it or not. At least 1 more quality prospect and one throw in should be in there.
Puig and De Leon for Chris Sale would be fun.
Greinke, Kershaw and Sale would just be unfair. They’d still probably get beat by the Cards though.
Why not Seager and Urias for Felix as well and you can have the best rotation in history
WS Champs fo years
The trade i proposed on fangraphs was puig, corey seager and schlebler for sale and tim anderson.
Value and logic aside, I think I’d rather just have Puig and Seager than Sale.
Yeah thats y i included tim anderson from the ssox. That trade wohld be great for baseball.
Puig for Tyson Ross
I think the Phils would do Puig and a prospect for Hamels. Not a blue chip prospect, though. Puig is something of a risk…just gotta wonder who on the Phils could sit him down and line him out when necessary. But you don’t want that to become a habit. If he can’t learn to be a pro on LA, with all the solid pieces they have, where could he?
Can’t learn to be a pro. Hmmm. Forgetting for a moment that he’s all of 24? Those of us who actually watch Dodger games have seen him grow up a lot in the last year or so. You won’t hear many Dodger fans worrying about his ability to play like a pro.
So what do you guys think? Is he dealt or no?
No. But it wasn’t hard to get people talking about it.
Let’s see, yesterday Puig is told by the Dodgers that they aren’t trading him. Today the rumor mill floats the idea that they were lying. Sounds plausible. Discuss.
Yeah, I don’t understand it, but really, everyone’s in play. Mike Trout for everyone you want on the Blue Jays, including minor leaguers? Okay. Chris Sale for pick any number of guys in the Royals system? No sweat. You get the right offer, you tell your player he’s traded. I wouldn’t want to be that player, but it’s kinda part of the game, right?
I always have to laugh when I see when I see rumors about a team willing to part with a player “for the right deal.” As if they’d be willing to let anyone go for the wrong deal. The Dodgers would be nuts to let Puig go for anything less than another RH power bat for the outfield to replace him, and a solid SP. Otherwise, they are going backwards.
Well said.
What about Puig to mets for Niese and wheeler then trade urias and others to Phillies for hamels
Dodgers won’t trade Urias for anyone unless it’s a pitcher with the same upside who’s already established in the big leagues (eg degrom, which the Mets wouldn’t do). Puig stays put unless a starter and RH bat comes back.
Fans will reference any news headline possible, to justify ridiculous trade proposals. Don’t believe the narrative about Puig being “a clubhouse cancer”, there really hasn’t been anything to back up those claims beside some TMZ-type theories.
Do believe, Puig was a 4.1 fWAR player at age 22. A 5.3 fWAR player at 23. Most guys are just trying to break into the Majors at his age. Even 190 AB’s into a down year, he’s got an above average bat (108 OPS+) with typical solid D.
Young, productive track record, great contract – beat writers looking for a break shouldn’t devalue that. A busted prospect and a few lottery tickets won’t get Puig’s talent in return.
Additionally, if you watch his games lately you can see an effort to tone it down. Mattingly also made a statement saying that the teammate thing is ‘old news’ and not a problem anymore
I call puig to the cards for holliday and piscotti, then package piscotti to the phils for hamels and salary relief of utley. Much like all three way deals, everyone would be disappointed
Why on earth would the Dodgers trade puig to the exact team they’re trying to beat??
If the Dodgers want to sell low on Puig, I hope the Rays step up to the plate.
Looks like a match for the Phillies. Puig/Deleon/Lee for Hamels.
Best trade partner is the Braves who are willing to deal Julio Teheran. Julio is on a 6 year deal for about $5 mil per year. Former all-star and #1 Prospect. Braves can trade Julio Teheran, Jonny Gomes and Chris Johnson for Yasiel Puig and Alex Guerrero (Dodgers buy out the opt-out option). Braves can substitute Alex Wood or Shelby Miller for Teheran if Dodgers prefer. Braves can also trade Teheran and Alex Wood if the Dodgers throw in Austin Barnes. In the end the Dodgers would have Julio Teheran and Alex Wood to add to Greinke and Kershaw and lose nothing but backups.
Puig is nothing but a backup now? Wow, he got demoted in a hurry. The Dodgers can’t buy out Guerrero’s option, because it isn’t an option, it’s an opt-out. Guerrero said a couple of days ago that he’d be willing to waive his opt-out for the right situation, which to his mind, means a regular starting job and also more money.
Puig played 53 games of 100 this year, – backup! That is less than Pederson, Ethier, Guerrero and VanSlyke and only 5 more than Hernandez – Backup, 5th man! Guerrero has an option to opt-out of his future years under contract if traded, that can be bought out, thus, a buyout of the opt-out. The “opt” in opt-out is abbreviation for “option”. I see no catholic school for you.
Puig was on the DL for those missed games. He was not benched. Guerrero’s opt-out cannot be bought out, but he can waive it. I see no baseball knowledge for you.
They should be listening for trades on Kershaw, since he turns into a pumpkin as soon as the playoffs strike!
I’m just throwing this out there, Jay Bruce, Chapman and Leake for Puig, Lee, and Anderson and another lower level prospect.
O’s send – Chen, Hunter, Matusz, and Wright
Dodgers – Puig
Dodgers get rotation and pen help for this year and an interesting prospect that is just about ml ready as either a 4th starter or a solid pen piece. O’s get the corner outfielder they have been looking for.
change Matusz to Machado.