Yasiel Puig has been popular in trade rumors dating back to 2016, but the Dodgers have nonetheless retained the outfielder to this point. However, it’s possible that will change this offseason – perhaps as early as the upcoming week’s Winter Meetings. The Dodgers limited Puig’s playing time against left-handed pitchers in 2018, which has left him “disgruntled,” “distrustful of management” and “open” to playing for another team, Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times writes. While the right-handed Puig has offered above-average production versus lefties over his career, he has struggled against them since 2017, leading to diminished at-bats last season. Still, it’s not certain the Dodgers will trade the 28-year-old Puig, Hernandez suggests, adding that he likely wouldn’t bring much back in a deal. And the Dodgers aren’t interested in dumping Puig’s projected $11.3MM salary for the sake of doing it, per Hernandez. Rather, it seems they’d want a legitimate return for Puig’s last year of team control. Consequently, despite Puig’s current dissatisfaction with the Dodgers, he could end up remaining in their uniform in 2019.
- More on the Dodgers, who will attempt to trade outfielder Matt Kemp this winter, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports. The Dodgers reunited with Kemp last December in an unorthodox, luxury tax-based trade with the Braves, and the 34-year-old went on to enjoy a productive season in Los Angeles. Kemp faded during the second half of 2018, however, and is due $21.5MM in 2019 – the last year of his deal. The former MVP candidate will be extremely difficult for LA to move, then, though perhaps it could swap him for another team’s unwanted contract.
- With the Rockies looking to upgrade an offense that was woeful in 2018, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post focuses on first base and the outfield as areas they could attempt to strengthen. In an ideal world, the Rockies would add a power-hitting first basemen, enabling them to shift Ian Desmond to the outfield, Saunders notes. As for A.J. Pollock, the best free-agent center fielder available, his current asking price is likely out of the Rockies’ range, according to Saunders.
- Given that the rebuilding Rangers don’t figure to contend in the next couple years, they should consider trading the likes of Jurickson Profar and Nomar Mazara this offseason, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News opines. Although the 25-year-old Profar finally began living up to his top prospect billing in 2018, and is only projected to earn $3.4MM in 2019, the infielder is not under control past 2020. Mazara, 23, will be similarly affordable next season ($3.7MM), the outfielder’s first of three potential arbitration years, but hasn’t yet delivered on the hype he garnered as a prospect.
Dont buy anything Dylan Hernadez or his cronies at the times say. They talked down about Puig all season and now he claims Puig came out to him Lol sure
Pretty sure anyone who’s come across this site has seen him lick hard wood!
Agree, Hernandez’ snarky ignorance is matched by Plaschke’s arrogance and stupidity. Andy M is a solid writer and reporter; but the other two are disgusting. They spent the first three years trying to run Friedman out of town. Now they tolerate the FO; but they incite the segment of the fan base that believe they are somehow entitled to WS championship and anything short of it is failure.
I do worry that the loss of Turner Ward could make it more difficult to connect with Puig. It’s a contract year though. A trade would not surprise me.
Andy was such a joy to have this year. between he and Joe Davis, I felt like being a Dodgers fans was as lucky as one could get. sorry to see Andy go already.
So now you know how it feels to see Buster Olney report about the Giants.
Dylan Hernandez openly admitted this past season,that he doesn’t watch many games.How can you be a beat writer for a team and not watch their games?!Until I see something from a more credible source or a direct quote from Puig himself…I call BS!
Hopefully the Dodgers win it in 2019 with Puig in it. He has given the Dodgers everything he deserves a ring with them.
None of the dodgers deserve rings. They had two chances. Let another NL team challenge the AL powerhouse. The dodgers can’t pull it off, clearly. On their way to becoming the Bills of the 21st century
I think they do deserve to win it, every year they have it right on their hands and something happens, injuries or bad performances. Hanley, Seager ,Jansen theres always something.
Isn’t “bad performance” the reason every team gets beat? That’s hardly an excuse as to why they should win.
Ok? Someone else in the NL needs to beat them its pretty simple.
That’s the problem, I don’t see a national league team that can contend with the likes of Astros, Red Sox, or Yankees. In the national league the Dodgers were clearly the best team in the National League but in all honesty they played against teams that were not quite there yet or having down years. No real contenders last year to beat the Dodgers, and the Dodgers had struggles all year.
I see the Braves winning the pennant in 2019. Them or the Nationals.
Or we could just say that in any given 7-game series any team can win four games and that the playoffs/postseason are a much worse indicator of true talent than a 162-game season. Of course, the biggest travesty of all this is divisional alignment and the odious one-game Wild Card play-in game. The A’s won 97 games this season and got to travel to play a road ga. me as their “postseason.” That’s just silly; any team can win a game against any other team – the Orioles, by far the worst team in baseball in 2018, beat Boston 4 times in 2018; sequence those four wins correctly and they’re the champs.
I understand baseball needs to compress the postseason because the season is so long and nobody wants the WS to bleed into November, but there’s got to be a batter system than this one. The WS used to be best-of 9, and I would personally love that (this was before divisional play, I know, but I can dream)
Baseball could make this a lot easier, by either shortening the season to 154 again or, you know, scheduling double-headers, but nobody likes those solutions because they decrease revenue. But still; I just don’t love the crapshoot of a five- or one-game series.
Another NL team will have to beat the Dodgers then. They’re not letting anyone have anything. 2017 could have gone either way and then they ran into a Mac Truck against the Red Sox. I’m not making any excuses, but playing deep into the post season every year will wear you down. Everyone expects them to compete in 2019 also, so they might give you more to cry about.
Playing in the postseason every year didn’t stop the Cardinals or Yankees for constantly living up to expectations. Cardinals would have won the 2012 World Series had it not been for the Giants pulling off one of the most unlikely comebacks in postseason history.
Dodgers aren’t letting off the brakes any time soon. They have won the NL West 6 years in a row, and barring a complete meltdown, very well could be 7. I’m not happy not winning a title the past couple years, but I’m not devastated it hasn’t happened. Just wasn’t meant to be. The Major League club and farm system are very healthy, it could happen in the next couple years. I’ll still take the Dodgers over everyone else.
The Cardinals did have the better team but got out managed toward the end of the series.
Well if another NL team can step up and beat the Dodgers they’ll have a shot. Until then, they and their fans will have to slump back down on their couches, suck down some beverages, snack on some chips and watch the Bums continue to fight for their seventh championship.
Another season, new chances. Let another team come and take it. They’re not going to just stand aside and let another team try. From the time I remember watching the Dodgers as a kid, they lost the World Series in 1974, 1977 and 1978 before they finally won one.
They wait until the playoffs to stand aside.
Exactly what NL team is going to beat the Dodgers? Unless the Brewers get better starters, it won’t be them. I don’t see the Cubs doing it, though I could be wrong. Braves certainly didn’t match up well. Perhaps the Phillies’ promised spending spree will propel them, but for now I see no better and more complete National League team than the Los Angeles Dodgers
The Brewers and Cubs played in a tougher division and won more games than the Dodgers in 2018. The Brewers have Nelson returning in 2019 and the offseason is far from over. The Cubs have an exceptional team and money to spend. I give both a shot at dethroning the Dodgers.
The Braves just signed Donaldson to a team that was filled with youngsters and still won 90 games. I give them a good shot at dethroning the Dodgers. The Nationals just signed the best pitcher available this offseason to a staff that has 2 legitimate Aces already. A healthy Adam Eaton and uber-prospect Victor Robles will help make up for the loss of Harper. I would not write them off either.
And in the West, a very young Rockies team took the Dodgers to a 163rd game in 2017. If you are honest, you have to say they have a real good shot at taking the NL West in 2019. Especially if they see any kind of bounce back from veteran relievers Davis, Shaw, McGee, Rusin, and Dunn.
I got a feeling the Nationals are going to be fierce this upcoming season. They aren’t done spending and have solidified their catching and signed another potential ace in Corbin. Harper leaving might actually motivate the players. In Griffey’s last year in Seattle, they only won 79 games. The year after he left they won 91.
Dont get me wrong anyone can win a playoff series but you are really overhyping these teams. The Rockies had everything go right for them and they still couldn’t dethron the Dodgers. Donaldson is not even close to the caliber player he was years ago. Cubs offense is extremely underwhelming. The NL is just not strong
I blame the over use of cyber metrics. Changing the damn lineup to much for “match up” purposes. How can players get into a rhythm. That’s very frustrating to watch! Can’t forget about the pen either. They do the same with the pen.
Or maybe just blame the players. The Dodgers basically did not start throw major platoons until they had to. And when they did they started to make their backend push. I hate these saber metrics are killing the game arguments. If guys perform they are going to play. If guys earn trust they will play. The Dodgers basically ran out an everyday 1-4,1-5 lineup with a platoon here and there because guys didn’t need to be platooned. This whole rhythm argument is a crutch. In a 6 month season you can see what’s happening. At some point you have to play to your roster to win.
Cyber metrics? What?
If you’re going to criticize something, at least get the first part right and call it the right thing.
If its someone else’s turn, they need to step up. No one deserves a shot until they beat the Dodgers to get there.
They won’t and they shouldn’t
I’m actually surprised they made it again considering how much weaker they were in 18 compared to 19
18 compared to 17*
Padre fans have to be the saltiest fan base on here and that says alot
They gotta make up for the fact there’s only like 3 of them.
hopefully the Dodgers don’t win it in mt lifetime
Unfortunately I was born in March 88, so I’ve already lost. We live by a creed around here. Fans of only 2 teams. The giants, and whoever is playing the dodgers!
i was born in 72 so I was around for 88 And watched it, i would be happy though if that was the last one i see
Me too – born in 1973. I think that 88 team is the least-talented team I’ve ever seen win a World Series. Even that Lasorda sloth was surprised as all hell when he waddled into the celebration on the field.
Luckily I’ve had 30 years watch them flail around. It’s almost been worth it.
Try bad managing…
Same here. I was born in 95 so prior to 2017 I hadn’t even seen the Dodgers make the World Series. Hope they never win as long as I’m alive.
Not gonna happen if you plan on living until an old age. Eventually just one of this years they will do it
Not necessarily. See the Cubs 118 year drought
Cleveland hasn’t won in my father’s lifetime either, and he’s in his late 60s.
I’ve always wanted to summit “Mt. Lifetime!” 😉
haha auto correct sucks sometimes
No player “deserves” a ring. They earn it or they don’t. There are tons of players in baseball that work their asses off, that hustle, that care deeply about the game, and never even get a shot at playing for a title. Luck plays a role, no doubt, but if one guy like Puig deserves a ring, then hundreds of other guys deserve a ring as well.
They been knocking on the door for years now, and they have the team to do it, they just fall short every time, and I say Puig deserves it because he takes a lot of pressure off the team with his craziness, he takes everything on himself. I didn’t know the Dodgers had so many haters, stop it people, enjoy the game.
Dodgers repeatedly fail when it counts. They used a bloated payroll to stockpile talant in the upper minors, and then used new 10 day DL to essentially run 6 and 7 man rotations. Strong regular season, terrible post season. Can’t pull roster tricks in post season. Plus, way too much faith in Kershaw. He costs them every postseason.
I’m not saying Puig isn’t good, or doesn’t contribute. But Puig doesn’t deserve to win anymore than hundreds of other guys. You’re a fan of Puig’s. That’s fine. It’s your choice. But singling him out as deserving seems like you’re saying he’s more deserving for a ring than others. He’s not. There’s myriad other guys, lots of guys on every team’s roster, just as deserving, and some maybe more so, as Puig is.
They won a game 7 on the road. That game has to count for something. I dont carr they lost in the end. Games do count before it
Im not a Puig fan, but did you know he’s the all time Dodger to play in playoffs games??? All the guys deserve it, but Puig has been going at it all these years, i think he does deserve it. yall taking credit from the guy
No one deserves anything. Either do it or don’t.
I’ll say it – he doesn’t deserve a dang thing and the guy’s a scumbag.
To say he is immature is an understatement, He goes out clubbing when he should be focusing on the next game, he is constantly late for games to the point I recall they benched him, they sent him to the minors (!) to show him how much he means to the team and to get him to clean up his act, and the Dodgers have been attempting to trade him for two years.
Has anyone read his article in SI about how he escaped Cuba? Here’s an exerpt:
“The suit against Puig alleges that the slugger, while still in Cuba, had accused a man of offering to help smuggle him off the island. The man claimed to be innocent. But he went to prison and, according to the lawsuit, was mistreated there to the point of torture. He is seeking damages in U.S. courts to the tune of $12 million. The suit against Chapman claims the pitcher conspired with the Cuban government to shanghai an innocent man. That one, as originally filed, seeks damages of $18 million. The suits contend that Chapman and Puig hoped to establish the appearance of loyalty to the government, freeing them to plan their own defections.”
The article goes into a lot more juicy stuff, you know, like murder and deceit.
espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/10781144/no-one-w…
Keep believing in communism my friend, that’s what they do best, lie, stain names, and brain wash. The guy is a distraction that takes the pressure off his teammates shoulders, and everyone loves him in LA. the only people hating on him are the rivals, which I think u must be one of those teams fan. It shouldn’t bother u that much since hes not on you favorite team.
Attemping to understand the love for Puig – there are many available OFers who exhibit leadership are not self destructive fools & require zero baby sitters.
I am not a Puig hater at all, but, he has NOT given the Dodgers all they have asked/hoped for. The “bs” factor (which has admittedly improved) alone makes him a “lesser-loved” player of the Dodger brass.
Idk who would be that interest in puig he’s a decent player but not some one I wouldn’t give up much in terms of prospects for him
Puig is still a head case and his numbers don’t merit putting up with him.
So the Rockies have the same hole they didn’t bother fixing last year? Shocking.
Crazy that they left Kemp off the roster in the WS.
They didn’t.
Basically did. Should have left Kershaw off bahaha
Roberts: “Who is Kemp?”
Aaron Boone: Dave Roberts wannabe.
Kemp was really bad in the second half of 2018, and provides zero defensive value. It’s not hard to see why he barely played in the WS.
He hit a home run in game 1, dude.
Yea, then didn’t play again makes sense.
The league knows Kemp only wants to play for LA. He only prepares like a pro if he is suiting up for the Dodgers. His trade value is bubcus. Best to hold onto him because, when motivated, he is still a plus player.
Lol remember 2 years ago when people were saying that the Dodgers would have to attach “top prospects” to Puig just to get rid of him? Good times…
Puig for Bauer who says no?
Cleveland.
Who does LA have to add to make Cleveland say yes?
Verdugo and stripling
I think that package gets Kluber too.
They should make either of those trades and really go for it. No need to keep Verdugo, they can always get Harper for RF
That is not close to enough. Stripling is going into his age 29 season. He is not even a trade chip.
Buehler and Verdugo would get it done. Or Verdugo, Ruiz, and May. Maybe Verdugo, May, and Santana. It will take a major haul of young, MLB ready talent to get Kluber.
1 year of Puig for 2 years of Bauer??? Cleveland turns that down in a heartbeat.
I debated putting Puig+ for a while before omitting it, I guess I thought Cleveland needs a RF more than LA needs a SP and who knows if the inconsistent Bauer will ever be elite again.
Puig+Verdugo+Stripling+Kemp+Kendall+May for Kluber+Bauer
Cleveland is on record as saying they want to trade 1 SP, not 2. They’re not rebuilding, they still want to contend.
Indians aren’t going to want Puig or Kemp in a trade. Verdugo and Stripling, possibly a catching prospect as well. And they’re only going to trade one of their starters.
If Bauer keeps playing with Drones, we may see the second coming of Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown on the mound.
Indians are not going to want a 29 year old Stripling either.
Verdugo, D Santana, stripling and Ferguson for Kluber or bauer +.
@norcaltribefan Now that is probably more like that the Indians are asking for Kluber.
Rangers need to be all in on a rebuild.
They’re dumb if they don’t trade Leclerc.
Leclerc & Mazara for Gohora, Jenista & Muller
Who says no ???
The Braves better say no to that! Mazara is not the OF the Braves should go after.
Tarnock and another prospect is possibly enough to get Leclerc!
I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic or not
Rangers are going to ask for Camargo and 3 top 30 prospects plus a PTBNL for that package. That would be a no. If Texas takes 5 prospects plus a PTBNL then deal.
The Rangers can get so much more than that for those two right now from at least a dozen teams. That Braves package is majorly lacking.
The Rangers have no business joining the parade of tanking teams.
Cardinals take Kemp and send Fowler and Cecil.
No thanks well just take the bad contract hit for 1 more year rather than years of more bad deals
Cardinals fan, eh?
he needs to be traded away solely based on home and away stats.
Article states, “so Puig hasn’t been traded yet but that could change at the winter meetings”…then a few sentences later says, “consequently, he’s probably not getting traded”.
So…which one is it?
News flash: he either will or won’t. But don’t we all know that already?
The writers aren’t claiming to know if he’ll be traded or not — just that there’s an increased likelihood it could happen.
Mazara & Profar for Adolfo, S. Adams, Sanchez , and L. Gonzalez who says no?
Both Kemp and Puig will be gone soon and Harper will be in. Mark it down.
I have an affinity for both players but I agree with you I really think that’s what’s going to happen
I can honestly see it. They will swallow the prospect hit and tie someone to Kemp to get him out. And Puig + being traded for a pitcher. Paving a way for Harper
Harper’s camp is supposedly trying to get him to LA. Just a question of whether or not the Dodgers are willing to meet the asking price.
The last 3 seasons Kemp was worth exactly 0 wins and he is owed $21.75 million in 2019. It will take a couple of HUGE prospects attached to him or the Dodgers paying all but MLB minimum and kicking in a mid-level prospect to get him moved.
That depends on your definition of “huge prospects”.
Why would they throw in a prospect to save 500k?
Well the Dodgers would basically just cut him if they were solely looking for major league minimum salary relief so there’s no need to add prospects, because that doesn’t pass the sniff test. Or trade for similar type contracts. The time to attach prospects was last year. They have no need to do so now unless its A) Lotto ticket or B) players that were subject to not making it through the year. You’re not going to get a substantial prospects for a year. You may receive again a lotto ticket or FV 45 type guys. The funny thing is Kemp has some value as a non everyday guy especially if put in the AL. Which btw he put up a 1.6 WAR last year so that assessment is still inherently false.
Mazara will have more value after this coming season imo. He just needs to stay healthy and fix his launch angle. This guy can be a perineal.280 hitter with 30 +bombs in his peak years. Stay patient with him
They need to be patient with him, because his value now, is nothing near what even a remotely good half season could provide..
Teams aren’t going to give up top prospects for Mazara right now, but they might if he has a good start to the 2019 season..
As of now though, he simply hasn’t lived up to his potential. Maybe a change of scenery helps him, but that’s only if the Rangers want to trade him away with his value at probably his lowest..Not smart
Mazara healthy may be the best outfielder the Rangers have. He has a lot of talent but has been playing injured. A new coaching staff may scrap this launch angle insanity and try to just put the ball in play, If not, the Rangers will loose over a 100 games this year.. Mazra has the power, arm strength and discipline to be a great OF. The Rangers have killed him and others with launch angles in pursuit of the home run.. All that they accomplished is having good hitters striking out and looking bad doing it. Best way to get the Rangers out of an inning is let them load the bases with no outs, the next three batters will be swinging for the fence. Trade Profar, Isiah Kiner-Falefa is better at 3rd base.
Let’s Go Mets!!
Puig!!!
Rangers would be virtually selling low by trading those guys this winter. They might be tradeable next season at the deadline if they perform well to get back some top prospects, but now they’d only bring back “high upside” Class A types. No thanks.
If Puig wasn’t such a dumbass (I.e. never hitting the cutoff man, base running errors, etc.) he may be tolerable on a baseball team. But I would just pass on the guy.
He’s certainly not a perfect player, but this is an older narrative. A lot (not all) of these issues are behind him.
Puig was 4th oin OF assists in 2018. Led the league in that category in 2014. Has been top ten 3 times. Find another narrative.
Living in the past
Too bad the Rox gave out that idiotic contract to Desmond. Not only was it just flat out dumb and made zero sense at the time it also cost them the 11th pick in the draft. Just stupidity..