6:20pm: Heyman clarifies that the deadline to reach a Puig trade is technically tomorrow afternoon, but a trade is “very unlikely” at this juncture (Twitter link). FOX’s Ken Rosenthal explains that if any trade is going to happen, it’d have to be wrapped up before midnight EST tonight, as the Dodgers are only interested in moving Puig for a player that could help their big league roster in this year’s playoffs (links to Twitter). At least three teams tried to claim Puig, writes Heyman, suggesting that there will be a market for him in the offseason.
1:23pm: The Dodgers will pull back outfielder Yasiel Puig after he was claimed on revocable waivers, per Jon Heyman of Fan Rag (via Twitter). His rights had been claimed by an unknown organization, which left Los Angeles with the ability either to negotiate a trade, allow that team to assume the contract, or instead revoke the claim and retain Puig’s rights.
L.A. was never expected to reach a deal involving Puig this month, and ESPN.com’s Jim Bowden confirmed earlier today that no swap was likely (via Twitter). Los Angeles will instead reconsider a deal in the winter, though there is at least some reason to believe that Puig could play a role at the major league level down the stretch.
The organization that won the waiver claim on Puig was primarily looking to play a “blocking” role rather than trying to strike a deal, per Bowden’s report. Of course, working out a swap for the talented but questionably reliable 25-year-old never figured to be easy.
If a team does ultimately make a move for Puig, he’ll represent a fascinating upside play. The overall package includes a strong established ceiling, a recent downturn, off-field issues, and three years of control at reasonable but still substantial rates.
BlueSkyLA
Well that’s a shocker!
willi
They the Dodgers think they are going to get more for this troubled player in off season , They won’t !
BlueSkyLA
Assuming he actually a “troubled player.”
willi
Immature and self centered and quite possibility OVERRATED !
healthbledger
Since you are a grammar stickler, its “Assuming he actually IS a “troubled player.”
It isn’t assuming at this point. He literally said he was having problems showing up on time in an interview. He said the snapchat issue was his fault and it won’t happen again. He is owning up to his mistakes of being a “troubled player.”
“I had the misfortune of falling onto bad times, and now I have to keep working to get out of those bad times and return to being the star I was in 2013.”
I don’t understand why you keep having this narrative going with him. Im a huge Dodgers fan and think it will be a massive mistake if they trade him in the offseason (which seems to be the trajectory at this point) but you can’t keep thinking the world is out to get him.
He even said he would rather play with another team than play in AAA, and if thats the case why would he say these things? He could just say that its the teams fault and they are out to get him so he could end up somewhere else.
BlueSkyLA
A typo, good catch.
I am arguing against the “troubled player” narrative, assuming it is intended to convey the meaning it usually does. In my book, immature behavior is not the same as the person being “troubled.” Most people do eventually grow out of immaturity, kind of by definition. If they never “grow up” and take responsibility for themselves, then that’s a legitimate personality defect. Is Puig at that point? At age 25, maybe. No doubt the Dodgers feel he should be over it by now.
So no, I’m not the one promoting the idea that Puig is a mess and the Dodgers have to part with him. Just the opposite, really.
healthbledger
I know you are arguing against that narrative, but we simply don’t know if its true or not. The Dodgers are holding things close to their chest for good reason, whether to keep what trade value he has or to salvage any relationship they have left with him. That being said, there is a massive bias against him and its frustrating. Case in point when that erroneous report came out about him storming off after being demoted came out. Everyone was quick to pull the “I told you so” card but when it came out that it was false there were crickets.
I also never said you were saying Puig is a mess and they have to part with him. I am 100% in agreement with you on that, my point is that he is addressing his faults so there are clearly issues there. Whether its immaturity, a troubled player, or both, there is something going on. The Dodgers did not simply send him down for his issues at the plate because if they did he would be back by now because Reddick is a giant gaping hole in the lineup.
Regardless, its very frustrating. I want to see him succeed and have a terrible feeling if he goes somewhere else that he will light it up again.
BlueSkyLA
We seem to be in complete agreement then.
Part of the narrative that haunts Puig is his showboating style of play especially in the first year or so. Other players didn’t like it for baseball tradition reasons and the fans from outside of LA got on him for it. Right away the Dodgers were faced the problem of how much they should require him to tone it down. Maybe they were hoping he’d grow out of it without having to change his natural approach to the game.
You’re right, we really don’t know yet. Probably the Dodgers don’t either for sure, which is why they sent him to baseball purgatory. Sure would hate to see him grow up someplace else, though. That could be painful.
willi
You are an Apologist for a Kid with a mans Body and mind of fifth teen year old , who thinks the World revoles around him , Where ever he Goes , I bet he wears out his welcome just as Quick !
And by the way have you noticed , That “NOT ONE” of his teammates came to this Guys defense on anything ! ZERO Not one.
GrandBigB
Ok so a teammate has to always back up a guy who looks like to be owning up to his mistakes? Puig has been dumb but it’s not like he will always be in that mindset, someday he will have to grow up if he still wants to play. If he goes somewhere else that could be a wake up call saying “get your head out of your ass and grow up and play baseball!” He still has time to wise up and become a good, if not great, player and a team would probably take him and try to shape him up if they had to. He has shown he has the ability to have talent, it’s just about tapping into it that’s been the issue
NL_East_Rivalry
The other team was just blocking, so if the Dodgers get anything back for him then it will be better than just letting him go for nothing
gofish 2
“The organization that won the waiver claim on Puig was primarily looking to play a “blocking” role rather than trying to strike a deal”
Brewers (blocking Cardinals)?
White Sox (blocking Tigers)?
Oooh the possibilities!
sabermatrix
They’re mainly teams that are in contention blocking other contending teams. Like Cody Ross to SF in 2010, when the Padres wanted him. Neither White Sox or Brewers are in Contention.
bleacherbum
While your statement is usually the case, I think this unique scenario could have been different. It could have been one bad team preventing him to go to another bad in the same division.
Perhaps Arizona who has a crowded outfield & doesn’t need Puig’s services could have acted as a block to not allow the Padres to claim him. For one, they see the Padres in the beginning stages of a full rebuild in which they have already added some interesting pieces. By adding Puig as well it would essentially speed up the clock on when the Padres would be competitive again and he would stay in Arizona’s division to possibly reak havoc on pitching like their own for more years to come. Why just let that happen?
Stewart & La Russa could have been like if he gets past us then San Diego will take him & do we really want to continue to pitch to this guy for the next 3+ years possibly? Nah. Block it. It is an interesting and unique dynamic that a player who is 25 & has already proven can be an elite MLB player if he fixes himself, is essentially up for grabs. His age makes it so that it doesn’t need to be just a contender who would be interested.
ray_derek
Was thinking pirates or mets instead of brewers
AndThisGameBelongsToMySanDiegoPadres
No chance he made it all the way to the White Sox
Priggs89
Definitely not the White Sox. If Puig got to them, which he didn’t, they would actually want him on the team. They tried to get him in the offseason, and if I’m not mistaken, I believe they checked in again at the deadline.
petfoodfella
$1,000,000 fee for just being a blocker. We need more trades!
ib6ub9
why would any team block a disease from a rival team?
bleacherbum
But what if that disease could bat .300 with 25 & 90 who could also throw out Usain Bolt if he tried to stretch a single into a double on a ball he cuts off from going into the gap.
ib6ub9
It’s a team game one guy (disease) can make it worse alot easier the better. Ask the Dodgers
BoldyMinnesota
I think that “disease” is totally overblown though. Unless there’s stuff not public, I’d easily take puig on my team
Priggs89
Is it though? Even if we assume nothing else is going on behind the scenes (hard to believe), the Dodgers clearly feel like they are better off without him, even though he’s completely mashed AAA pitching and looked MUCH better before the demotion.
Mikel Grady
Maybe but article is talking about a guy batting .260 7 hr 34 rbi
2B15Lopes
Lots of hot air
notagain27
Front office will have to do some damage control if Puig isn’t traded over the winter. Puig is a huge disruption to the clubhouse chemistry. He has lost the trust and respect of his teammates and coaching staff. Maybe if he is a role model the last six weeks all will be forgiven and life will go on. In my opinion, 50/50 chance he is traded and that might be generous.
jaysfan77
To think, what the Dodgers could of got for him a couple years ago, terrible upper management with this team, just awful, the money they’ve wasted, the players they’ve given big contracts then traded for less, I don’t get it. The problems with Puig were apparent even from a fan who hardly ever gets to see them play, there was also constant rumours about the senior members of the team upset about this a couple years ago, yet here they are..lol they’ll end up giving him away at this point for probably not much, and likely even eat some of his salary.
AddisonStreet
I love all the “He has matured, he’s not a problem anymore.” comments about a guy who’s own team doesn’t even want him around even though he’s mashing AAA.
Cam
Lots of people mash at AAA – what didn’t help his cause was failing to hit well in the Majors. And not just this year either.
BlueSkyLA
You love those comments without even seeing them. Interesting.
comebacktrail28
I’m actually Surprised the White Sox didn’t trade for Him Puig = Kenny Williams 100%
ducoach
I really feel Yasiel has learned a real lesson in humility. He would be a help to the Blue now,Especially with Reddick being the “toilet” player he’s turned out to be. Maybe watching Puig now succeed would put a fire in Reddick! Puig Damn sure couldn’t be worse than hitting .150 like Reddick!! Put Puig back in Right Field,Right Now!!!