Recently, Yasiel Puig broke the silence of an otherwise quiet Dodgers clubhouse by talking loudly and with animation on his cellphone before hanging up to scream a lewd suggestion across the room to teammate Joc Pederson.
So when the Dodgers describe Puig as more mature or in a better place, understand they are still grading on a curve. What they are not doing any longer, they insist, is being held hostage by his potential talent or popularity. The Dodgers plan to begin the season with Puig as their regular right fielder, but even as arguably his biggest supporter, manager Dave Roberts said, “My message to him was clear: If he is not performing or he loses his focus, he is going to create opportunities for others, but that is the way it is for everyone.”
That is not exactly true. Corey Seager or Justin Turner or Clayton Kershaw could stumble, and no one is taking their jobs. Puig is different. Not long ago, the Dodgers were marketing around him and were afraid of getting rid of him and seeing him blossom elsewhere. But his OPS has fallen every year from his breakout 2013 rookie campaign, from .925 to .740 last year.
The Dodgers sent him to the minors last August, and say he returned with a better swing and attitude. This spring, Roberts insists, “Yasiel is in the best mental and physical state I have seen him.” Puig is just 26 and has two years and $14 million left on his deal. Yet he is likely facing his last shot in Los Angeles with top prospect Cody Bellinger perhaps ready.
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