February 2nd, 2016 at 6:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka After two months of waiting and wondering when it would happen, new Dodgers manager Dave Roberts finally met with outfielder Yasiel Puig for the first time on Saturday morning at the team’s annual FanFest event at Dodger Stadium.
“I actually had a good sit-down with him,” Roberts said. “It was refreshing for me to get face-to-face with him one-on-one and talk about our vision.”
One day after addressing the LA City Council about renaming Elysian Park Avenue to Vin Scully Avenue, new Dodgers manager Dave Roberts finally met with Yasiel Puig. (Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)
But in spite of the fact that it took Roberts this long to finally meet his oft-controversial right fielder in person, it was very obvious that the new Dodgers skipper is well aware of the baggage that Puig carries – Zack Greinke notwithstanding.
“For me it’s more a ‘let’s wipe the slate clean’ and let’s start anew,” said Roberts. “There’s the same core of players but there’s a completely different coaching staff. We just want him to be himself and let’s start fresh.”
Even though Puig remains a huge favorite among Dodger fans, many believe that 2016 will be his final season in LA. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
Roberts mentioning the Dodgers new coaching staff and wanting to start anew while talking about Yasiel Puig tends to support the long-held belief that Puig and former Dodgers hitting coach Mark McGwire didn’t always see eye-to-eye or didn’t get along with one another. It also suggests that this may be Puig’s last chance to meet the expectations of the Dodgers brass, who may be inclined to trade the 25-year-old Cienfuegos, Cuba native and the guy Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully affectionately calls the “Wild Horse” if he does not.
There’s no question about the affection between these two. It’s Puig’s relationship with his teammates that is cause for concern. (Photo courtesy of @Dodgers)
Obviously, the Dodgers are hoping that Puig will have a break-out season in 2016 not only to help the team win its fourth consecutive NL West title but to significantly increase his potential trade value. Puig is entering the fifth year of his seven-year / $42 million contract with the Dodgers which is a very tradable contract in today’s outfield market.
There is no doubt whatsoever that much of what was said between Roberts and Puig during their first meeting will never be shared publicly, nor should it. But one has to believe that regardless of how clean Puig’s 2016 slate is, he’ll probably be on a short leash due to the many outfield options the Dodgers have heading into the new season.
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I think the time clock really is running for Yasiel. If the issues are with his teammates or his seemingly lackadaisical approach or injury issues, they have to be overcome this year. He has to be acclimatized to the US by now and is according to the times he makes the news off the field.
The team can no longer talk about potential. It’s past that point. Perhaps the potential was over rated.
My guess would be that if Yasiel does not measure up this year he may well be a trade deadline casualty. The team has other outfield options and Alex Verdugo on the way in a couple of years.
Assuming Puig gets a full year of ML service time (no reason to believe otherwise) his contract allows him to take the Dodgers to arbitration to increase the amount of contract for 2017 and 2018. All Star caliber season(s) would likely yield a significant pay increase over his current $6.5MM in 2017 and $7.5MM in 2018.
Interesting ST ahead… Joc P. has to figure it out or he’ll be @ OKC refining his batting skills… Could be Kike or Trayce Thompson waiting in the wings.
I’ve said it before regarding Mr. Puig, but I mean it this season!!! Hit and do the little things or see what FO can get… A huge shame, becuz a more talented player would be hard to find in MLB… Does this mean Keep Dre as b/u???
I expect the uncertainty with Yasiel makes any decision to trade Andre much more difficult as does the uncertainty about Joc. They are pretty much sure of what Andre can contribute.
Something has to be done with the outfield situation to get some stability and that may mean trading Andre regardless of other factors. He is tradable whereas I don’t think CC is. The deal will be made before Andre’s 5/10 cuts in.
It will indeed be an interesting spring, Peter – not only the outfield but the 2B/3B situation as well.
Shortly after F&Z arrived in LA, I more or less predicted that they would be big on platooning – especially Zaidi, who did so when he was in Oakland with catchers Derek Norris and John Jaso (who have both since been traded). I even wrote about it back on January 14, 2015:
Does Zaidi have something up his sleeve with Ellis and Grandal?
Judging by what we saw last season – especially with the pitching staff – it is very likely that F&Z will once again use the Dodgers’ 40-man roster as an extension of their 25-man roster.
Ron I get the same feelings about Friedman and our GM. I see our GM being pure with saber metrics, and I see Friedman as a guy that uses saber metrics as more a tool. I get that feeling, because the way that Joe Maddan manages. Madden doesn’t manage like a manager, that only uses saberetrics. He often bunts, which is a saber metric no no. I also think that the GM is the one who brought all of these players, that played for the A’s, to the Dodgers. Anderson, MCCarthy, Kazmir, Johnson, Calaspo.
2016 will not only be an important year for Puig and Joc, it will be an important year for F&Z as well. This ownership group wants to win and soon. They’ve given these guys unlimited resources to get there (i.e. – money) and expect a WS title from them.
Because of the huge strides that F&Z have taken with the Dodgers minor league system, and they are HUGE strides, I do not believe that ownership will be quick to fire F&Z. However, if they do not bring a WS title to LA within the next couple of years (when all of these top prospects are in the bigs), they will be goners.
I’m not so sure sending Joc to Okie City would accomplish much. He’s proven he can hit AAA pitching.
He may just end up being a AAAA player, but it’s too early to give up on him.
I’m a CC fan and hope he can finally stay healthy for at least 150 games. Him healthy and lets say in the 2 hole, his speed and he becomes a + for the Blue…
Like you, I am a rare Carl Crawford fan. But he hasn’t played more than 130 games in a season in five years and no more than 116 in the last four. Hoping to get 150 out of him at this point in his career (he’s 34) is a bit of a reach.
When Carl gets hot, he is awesome – both with his hitting and his speed (his defense… not so much). But the painful truth is that he is made of glass and can’t stay on the field.
Perhaps 2016 will be different, but I seriously doubt it. And, as Bluenose noted, his contract is untradable.
You know Ron, I’m looking forward to the battles for 2B/3B and think were going to fine after the dust settles… I’d like to see Guerrero have a great start at 3B until Turner returns and thus giving a boost in Alex’s marketability… We end up with a win win situation…
2B anxious to see how Micah looks in ST… I’m happy with both Kiki and Howie manning the bag, but Micah pushing them…
Man, I couldn’t agree more. I like seeing guys having to fight for a starting job instead of the age-old practice of just penciling in the veterans based on their salaries.
I get that front offices don’t like seeing their multi-millionaires sitting on the bench, but if winning is key – and it definitely should be – you have got to play your best eight – period.
My concern with all that’s happened is what they do with Kiki. He needs to be out there every day, regardless of the position for one simple reason. He’s potentially the best lead off man they have. Certainly he has weaknesses, he doesn’t hit RHP well, but that will come with experience and coaching. With Maury back on board he can learn the art of base stealing from the master. He’s not going to develop these things if he doesn’t get to do it.
With him at the top of the order the whole team should be fired up, kinda like the ’60’s Dodgers. They just need a place for him on the field.
You’re right that the best players, not necessarily the best paid. They say they want the team to get younger. Now they need to show it.
If Roberts holds true to this, Kiké will get his ABs:
Kike will play. He will be a Ben Zobrist type, maybe even a Junior Gilliam type. Lots of play time if he continues to hit.
It’s good to know that Roberts had his get together with Puig. Now the rest is like I always say, time will tell.
Obviously, this season will be a true test of Yasiel’s character. How he responds to the uncertainty of this season will, in my opinion, ultimately define his MLB career. It’s time for him to, “walk the walk and talk the talk.”
The Dodgers would be doing themselves a huge disservice if they traded Andre Ethier, mainly because they already employ all the left-handers in the league! Seriously, his numbers would be hard to replace.
The worst thing that ever happened to Puig was losing Juan Uribe as a mentor. I know others have tried to help but that was a special relationship. The Dodgers lost one the best fielding 3B in the game and someone who knew how to be a mentor to Puig.
I am looking at a big rebound year for Puig. This is his year to make it or break it but I expect a very good year. His talent is there and injury prevented him from performing to expectations last year.
In the end, I say that the brass needs to let Puig be Puig and bring back the “wild horse.” All will be well and we can enjoy the roller coaster ride.
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