Dodgers Team News

LA Times: Puig May Have Been Disgruntled With His Playing Time In 2018

The Los Angeles Times featured a Dylan Hernandez article about how Yasiel Puig probably should stay with the Dodgers in 2019. Dodgers Nation was alerted to this article by Blake Williams, a new writer for DN. Dylan’s article goes into some of the inconsistencies of Puig, the surplus of outfielders and his possible trade value. Hernandez stated this in regards to Puig’s trade value:

“Even if the Dodgers were to agree to cover some of Puig’s salary, the return for him in a trade would likely be minimal. What’s clear is the Dodgers won’t deal him for the sake of dumping his salary.” – Dylan Hernandez, LA Times.

Who Wants To Trade For Puig

Puig really is more valuable to the Dodgers than most other teams. No team is going to take on his salary (and him being elegize for free agency after one season) unless they feel he could help put them over the top. Another possibility is the swap of players with higher salaries to balance out a trade. The outfielders that teams want are Cody Bellinger and Alex Verdugo as stated by Jon Heyman:

“Word is that Bellinger indeed has been requested in multiple trades, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Indians were one of those teams. Alex Verdugo is another popular player (though not as popular as Bellinger). The Dodgers have been “hesitant” to move Bellinger, rivals say …” – Jon Heyman, Fancred Sports, Inside Baseball MLB Notes: Dodgers have look of legitimate bidders for Harper

Editorial Note: Do not trade Cody Bellinger

Despite what a lot of Dodgers fans think, the market for Yasiel Puig is not high. Earning $11 million this coming year and then being eligible for free agency does not help. Hernandez makes a good point that it is probably better to keep him on the Dodgers in 2019. I would even say, try and sign him before arbitration to a 3 year/$24-27 million contract.

Puig Disgruntled?

Dodgers
Sep 3, 2018; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) reaches first on an error by New York Mets third baseman Todd Frazier (not pictured) in the fifth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

What alerted Blake Williams was this:

“A .209 hitter this year against left-handed pitchers, Puig was disgruntled by how he was limited to playing against right-handers, according to people familiar with his thinking who spoke under the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the subject. The frustration was said to affect his play, and Puig is now described as distrustful of management and open to playing for another team.” – Dylan Hernandez, LA Times.

This is not a surprise as many Dodgers fans figured some players must have been a bit disgruntled (or a little “gruntled”) by the lack of steady playing time for many players in 2018. I don’t blame Puig or any of the younger players. They are reaching points in their career when they want to get the maximum pay they can achieve. I wrote about some players last month who could possibly use a change of scenery. A few were because they aren’t getting the opportunities to maximize their talents.

Conclusions

Yasiel Puig is eligible to be a free agent after the 2019 season. Like any player eligible for free agency or arbitration, he wants to get the most money possible. These players have relatively short careers and most won’t be able to come close to the salaries they are making now. I understand why the Dodgers platoon but it has an impact on these careers. I hope that most of the platoons stop until the season is into August for players such as Max Muncy, Cody Bellinger and Puig. Give them a chance to prove themselves, but if they prove they need to platoon then do it through the rest of the season.

The big question I’d like answered is “how many players were disgruntled by the platoon decisions?” What are your thoughts on the impact of platoons on younger players? Does Puig have a right to be disgruntled?

Dodgers Rumors: Los Angeles Made Contact With Power Hitting First Baseman

Tim Rogers

A fan of the Dodgers since 1973 since I got my first baseball cards while living in Long Beach. I came to San Diego for college and never left nor did I ever switch my Dodgers' allegiance. Some know me as the "sweater guy". #ProspectHugger

23 Comments

  1. Puig quote: “… The frustration was said to affect his play, and Puig is now described as distrustful of management…”. The frustration Puig is referring to is playing time.
    This should be a warning to management , Puig’s supporters, and players from other teams that are considering a move to the Dodgers. Analytics having become the way LA makes playing decisions will have a negative effect on all players. It has a way of marginalizing all players simply because no one knows when or if they will play. Inconsistent playing time will discourage and negatively impact great players. Sad that LA has gone this route.

    1. BleedBlueForever, I fully agree with what you posted here and yes, I would bet several of the younger players and vets as well are disgruntled over this asinine platooning.
      ” Puig’s supporters, and players from other teams that are considering a move to the Dodgers. Analytics having become the way LA makes playing decisions will have a negative effect on all players. It has a way of marginalizing all players simply because no one knows when or if they will play. Inconsistent playing time will discourage and negatively impact great players. Sad that LA has gone this route.”
      And when all is said and done, no FA or a player in a potential trade would really want to come to Dodgers at all because of this. it seems that many players are being ‘pigeon holed’ as guys who cannot hit LHP if they are LHB and same for RHB.

      1. Excellent post, Azul!!! Hope all is well with you and PD Jr!!!! This is going to be one heck of an off-season. Happy Holidays!!!

      2. LindaYes I don’t like how Dave Roberts plays the players I don’t think he is a good manager when it comes to pitching he’s take them out to early and Puig is a good player he should have more playing time to many out fielders I don’t think Dave Roberts makes good decisions

  2. Puig should have been in more, yes. I would have thought Kemp would have been disgruntled for last couple of months too as he was best hitter not named Turner, but he seemed to play the team cheerleader well.

      1. If you don’t get enough chances, you will not improve . Puig is a stud. Super star if handled correctly

    1. And by the way, he doesn’t hit with runners in scoring position either. And he led the team in hitting into double plays.

  3. Get rid of the ones making these descions, it’s caused 2 World Series losses. But something tells me our shit ownership is on board with this platooning and marginalization

    1. Yes they are N0DH. Platooning will be the complete downfall of the Dodgers yet again, and management will be the responsible party.

      1. Hey there Bleed Blue, Spot on about this obsession with platooning being the downfall of this team again and will continue to be for the foreseeable future as well. I can honestly say that even though I have been a fan since 1965, if I was a regular MLB player who thrived on consistent playing time would not want to come here to this team myself. Well I got to go and prep for my Mom’s 90th birthday party tomorrow.

  4. These guys are going to turn to the dark side if you don’t let them maximize their talents. SMH

  5. What baseball player worth their salt wants to be platooned? None!!! Not if you have any pride, and Puig has pride. He wears his Dodger Blue pride every day just by the way he plays and carries himself. As much as I like Manager Roberts and how he handles egos, his platooning is not something I support. My friend, PaulDodger Fan1965, states the case very well if you read his post above. To see Kiki batting cleanup while other far better players sat, was disgraceful and should be stopped.

    1. Spot on, BLUE LOU! And PD JR. is doing quite well. he is enjoying my Holiday lighting throughout my living room too, LOL. As many as 85+ HR’s were sitting on the bench for the first 2 games of this year’s WS, and that says all one needs to know how poorly Roberts and the FO managed this WS. all is because of this obsession of R-L-R-L-R to infinity! Hey , BTW this is the site I hang out now so hope to see ya here more often.

      1. I can’t tell who’s the parrot you or the bird? Same post everyday from this guy ova here

  6. Forget winning. Puig is fun. I’ll watch him and Billy Hamilton play on my field any day.

  7. Playing time is earned and lost based upon performance. Over the last 2 seasons, ~ 300 plate appearances, Puig has an OPS around .600 and a BA at the Mendoza line against LH pitching. And his advanced metrics for OF defense in 2018 was well below average. Time to get some reasonable value for Puig in trade before his value drops any further.

    1. OK, but another impact RH bat is needed to combat the LHP Dodgers most likely will see a lot of. True about Puig’s reverse splits. I am just not a fan of this platooning throughout the lineup they are doing.

  8. Mgmt is too stupid I would fiorbid Friedman from making decisions on who plays and let the manager make the decisions and fire Roberts too cause he clearly shows poor leadership and never backs up his players when umpires clearly calls balls for strikes.I think that”s why the hitting coach left cause he got tired of the dumb decisions magmt keeps making.

  9. Re platooning. Would you play a player when you have someone better suited for that situation on the bench? I hope not, it makes no sense! Sure the players have pride, then they should get better at hitting both left and right handers. Players who play everyday, like JT hit both well, players who do not, like Puig, get platooned, simple!

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