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.
Pug and the 19 year old for sale
Not nearly enough. Puig is a buy-low guy at this point and likely not anything more than the 4th player in a deal for Sale.
Give more UP than Puig for Sale like 3–4 more high level or no trade the fans are looking Chicago South
Heck no. Jose Urias is definitely off limits, at 19 yrs old.
Lmao for sale he better be in play
Agreed
Dodgers fans seem to think Urias is the second coming or something. If I were LA I’d have no problem giving Urias, Puig, Bellinger for Sale. Chi might even ask for more
Believe me, they already have and will continue to do so in the off-season now that the non-waiver trade deadline has passed.
It would take a lot more for Sale than Puig and Urias. Puig also needs a coach who is a task master, someone to wake him up and be better, Robin Ventura is NOT that guy, nor will any other manager than Kenny Williams picks. Urias is a 19 yr old prospect, but he is just that a prospect. Sale is a known Ace level Pitcher with a very affordable contract. I doubt Sale is moved this season. More likely at the end of next season at the earliest.
White Sox bench coach Rick Renteria could be that guy if he were to replace lame duck manager Robin Ventura this season.
Here is to hoping, IMO Ventura should have been canned after last season of mediocrity and underachievement. He should have been canned after 2014 to be honest. In the least, he should have been canned after that slide this season. Guy has more lives than a cat (or KWs ego refuses to allow the termination)
It’s no secret that owner Jerry Reinsdorf is loyal to a fault when it comes to his front office personnel. This is not only evident with the White Sox but has occurred with the Bulls as well.
Much of that loyalty has also trickled down from the f.o. to the managerial and coaching ranks. With the White Sox, it seems as long as an executive or manager doesn’t publicly embarrass the organization they can have their job for life. Former manager Ozzie Guillen would likely still be the White Sox skipper had he not rankled the organization with so many “candid” comments and if he had a less tempestuous relationship with then GM Kenny Williams. Jerry Reinsdorf loved Ozzie from his days as a White Sox SS but Guillen went too far in his comments and actions to be retained.
Puig’s been a solid citizen and may not need a taskmaster so much as he needs a good training staff and conditioning program for those balky hamstrings of his. Injury problems and Puig’s undisciplined approach at the plate have a lot more to do with his decline in my opinion that his attitude.
The White Sox have that as well in highly regarded trainer Herm Schneider who has managed to keep the White Sox as one of the healthiest teams in all of MLB year in and year out.
Puig would be a great buy low candidate for the White Sox. His trade value is at an all time low with declining production for several years now
The problem is it fits with Williams’ mantra of getting players on the decline.. Puig also needs a coach that will push him, and Ventura could not push over a daisy.
I don’t know much about Bill shaikin but I bet he’s a lot better at his job then Buster Olney is.
Then Shankin lacks ambition in his life… ’cause no one would prefer to work at a local newspaper than for ESPN, which – love it or hate it (and I hate it) – is the industry standard for sports media.
Come on now! Your comment just dissed all the great people who write for MLBTR. LOL
Buster Olney is great at his job plus he is related to Corey and Kyle Seager
Who cares
Ask any of the legion of proven contributors that ESPN has axed unceremoniously over the last year or so whether it’s purely ambition or if there may be other good reasons such as increased job security and prominence in a leading media market that might make it more desirable to write for the LA Times or any of the other top four or five big city newspapers in the current sports media environment.
Yes. A reporter might have to be more “careful” when working for a Disney affiliated organization. So much for freedom of speech or freedom of the press. LOL
Most people figure he’d be packaged for Sale which would be great but I would love a smaller deal instead to acquire Eaton
Eaton has too much value to the White Sox considering his contract and performance. Given the saturation of the outfield market – lots of cheaper options that can put up equal or better numbers in a two-month sample size – I just don’t see any team offering nearly enough to convince the Sox to part with him.
like I said yesterday in the comments. saw this coming. hmmm who cares to speculate the package?
Eaton/Quintana/Sale should be the goals here. Otherwise there is no reason to move him.
Frazier and Shields? C’mon…
Dodgers just got Rich Hill
Good but there history of greed they still want more
Are we talking about the guy who refuses to improve his play, or Urias, for any of those three guys? What exactly do people think that Hahn is looking at? Puig from 3 years ago? Shields for Puig should be good enough.
However, I do not think Puig would fit on the Sox. There already is no accountability by the manager on the team. To Puig it would be like Disneyland, sluff off all you want because Ventura will not care, or have enough clout to do anything about it. The bigger issue with the White Sox now is their management.
Shields for Puig? You’re joking, obviously.
Here we go again, more ‘Im a fan of -insert team here- and I think the Sox should trade Sale for -insert a bunch of middling prospects and none of their good prospects- as it would be a good fit for both teams (really only my team but the Sox should really just give Sale away).’
More possible now with the Dodgers having just acquired RF Josh Reddick from the A’s to play RF.
Puig has limited value, he has been exposed and hasn’t adjusted, he doesn’t move the needle in any trade. He is a buy low for a salary dump player, for a lottery ticket player or a thrown in for a huge trade. Currently, trading for Puig is trading for blue sky value. If the Dodgers want great value for Puig they need to get him healthy and rehabilitate his putrid play on the field.
Look at his last month. He’s raked. They kept him out (I’d assume to preserve him for a trade) for longer than they had to, but he came back yesterday and smacked 2 doubles. Every article seems to just compile the whole year and decide he’s garbage and needs to improve without looking at the actual improvement that’s going on right now.
Puig needs to learn how to adjust at the plate, just like his fellow countryman, White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu. Puig is a gifted RF who is blessed with one of the best outfield arms in all of MLB. His defensive play on the field would hardly be considered “putrid”. I would be hesitant to label his offensive production, even the more recent numbers, with that description also, Not with what I’ve seen on the South Side of Chicago over the past few years. LOL