On Monday, Cuban outfielder Yasiel Puig did not travel with the Los Angeles Dodgers to Colorado, according to Fox Sports and other outlets.
According to the reports, Puig was told by Dodger organization to travel with the team as they were looking to trade him. The Dodgers also said that if they did not make a deal by the time the deadline passed that he would be demoted to the minor leagues. That transaction is expected to occur sometime tomorrow leaving his future with the club in doubt.
Puig’s numbers in Los Angeles
In Puig’s first season in Major League Baseball, he dominated the league. Puig hit a whopping .319 in his rookie league. The Dodger outfielder added 19 home runs, 42 RBIs, and 166 hits to an impressive slash line. Those accumulated stats earned him Rookie of the Year honors.
But since that stellar opening year, the Cuban natives numbers have dipped on the offensive side of the ball. Puig’s batting average dropped below the .300 mark in his second season; to .296. However, hitting around 30% is still really good. The fans took notice as they voted him to became an All-Star for the first time.
The next season is when you start to see the numbers start to take a nosedive. While Puig only suited up in 79 games in 2015, he batted a mere .255.
What do the Dodgers do now?
Earlier today, Los Angeles acquired Josh Reddick from the Oakland Athletics. Reddick is a phenomenal outfielder who is going to solidify that part of the field.
Reddick will provide plenty of consistency at the dish. He gets good contact on the ball and is a good situational hitter.
Whatever happens to Puig at the Dodgers, the LA club is set in the outfield for a couple more years.