White Sox Interested In Yasiel Puig

The White Sox have interest in Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig, according to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney (via Twitter). Chicago had checked in on Puig over the winter but he wasn’t available at the time, per Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times (via Twitter), who says that’s quite the opposite at present.

Puig, 25, has undeniably had a down year on the field even as he is said to be improving in his attitude and approach. Though he remains a quality defender, Puig is running out a below-average batting line that falls well shy of the top-notch production he put up earlier in his career. He does remain controlled beyond the year, of course, though he can opt into arbitration — which means the cost of those years could float with his performance.

Those teams have reportedly at least engaged on Chicago’s top starters, Chris Sale and perhaps also Jose Quintana, though it’s entirely unclear at this point how the interest in Puig could relate. Indeed, Los Angeles could conceivably have interest in a variety of the South Siders’ players — including starter James Shields, closer David Robertson, outfielders Adam Eaton and Melky Cabrera, and third baseman Todd Frazier. To be clear, none of these players has been connected directly to Los Angeles; I’m pointing them out only because the trade possibilities seem wide open at present.