The Dodgers have found their manager, former outfielder Dave Roberts, and can turn their attention to the roster, which has won the last three division titles in the National League West. Yasiel Puig, the Dodgers’ mercurial 25-year-old outfielder, seems like attractive bait to net a host of prospects, but the right move is to let Roberts work his magic with the talented Cuban.
Rumors are swirling that Puig’s hubris and somewhat underwhelming production have created discontent in the locker room. That intensified this weekend when Andy Van Slyke, Dodgers outfielder Scott Van Slyke’s father, insinuated that ace Clayton Kershaw requested the team trade Puig. The thing is, on a team riddled with albatross contracts, Puig is a gleaming bargain.
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Puig’s 2015 was marred by injury; he slashed .255/.322/.436 with 11 home runs over the course of 79 games, and was mostly anchored to the bench during Los Angeles’ NLDS defeat to the Mets. In 2014 Puig was healthier, and he hit 16 home runs while stealing 11 bases. The stats don’t scream superstar, even though Puig reportedly carries himself like one.
Still, Puig remains one of baseball’s most electric players. His arm is as good as any in the sport, he can play any outfield position, and he can hit elite pitching. Most importantly, he has a seven-year, $42 million contract that runs through 2018. For as much as he may be able to bring back, trading his upside at that price could potentially be an outright disaster.
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Puig may be the reason Los Angeles settled on Roberts instead of a more experienced option such as Bud Black. Roberts is a World Series champion, and a heady, clutch player who was added in the second half of Boston’s 2004 title run. That team was nicknamed “The Idiots” because of their reliance on eccentric personalities. David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Johnny Damon and others could get wild, but Roberts was one of the steady hands keeping things professional.
His calm demeanor was essential in their historic comeback vs. the Yankees in the ALCS, stealing a base as a pinch runner in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 4. The Red Sox were down by one, but Roberts scored the game-tying run after that steal, and the rest was history.
Roberts had a 10-year career with five teams in MLB, and recorded 243 stolen bases. He was known as a consummate professional, and may be able to reach Puig in ways Don Mattingly was unable to.
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