LOS ANGELES – He's been compared to a wild stallion, a bear, and a fine cigar, but on Tuesday during the Los Angeles Dodgers press conference to formally introduce their new manager, he was a dark cloud.
His name is Yasiel Puig, and he was a hot topic for the Dodgers front office and their new skipper Dave Roberts during their introductory press conference.
Puig has made headlines recently, but not the altogether good kind. First, it was Andy Van Slyke who went on a St. Louis radio station and said that the highest paid player on the Dodgers went to the front office and told them to get rid of Puig.
"Kershaw?" the sports radio host asked.
"I didn't say his name," Van Slyke replied.
Things got worse for Puig over the Thanksgiving holiday when TMZ Sports was the first to report that the right fielder got into an altercation with his sister at a Miami nightclub. The incident escalated to the point where Puig punched a bar manager and was then jumped by security staff who tried to corral the superstar.
The circumstances surrounding the brawl led to an investigation by MLB and the Dodgers organization. It also led to frustration from fans who believe that the front office should trade him.
"I think Yasiel Puig can be a significant part of future success for the Los Angeles Dodgers," Friedman said when pressed on the topic of trading Puig. "We're evaluating all of our players in terms of how they fit within the context of our team both on the field and off the field. We factor in every detail in terms of our roster construction."
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Friedman hinted that Puig can still be a part of the team's success moving forward, so presuming the Dodgers don't trade Puig, how exactly can Roberts and the new coaching staff corral the "Wild Horse?"
"Puig responds well to genuine people," said teammate Adrian Gonzalez, who was in attendance for Roberts' press conference. "A guy like Dave has an incredible ability to connect with him. Dave is not after his own agenda, he's interested in what's best for Puig and for the team. I think Puig will respond to that because he'll see that he wants what's best for him and for his career."
Roberts plans on meeting with Puig face-to-face in January, when Puig is expected to come back to Los Angeles where he has a home.
"I'm in the stage of reaching out to players. I've spoken to 15-16 different players," Roberts said, noting that Puig was not one of them yet. "For me, I'm in the mode of learning the players and building relationships. I want to make this the best team it can be."
For the 2016 Dodgers to be the best they can be, they're going to need Puig on it. Not as a distraction, not injured, and not a 245-pound overweight version of himself. When healthy and focused, Puig is one of the best players in the league and his talent can propel a team to new heights. If unhappy, Puig can be a problem, and perhaps a proverbial cancer in the locker room.
What version of Puig will the Dodgers get next Spring? Only time will tell, but how Roberts relationship with the young Cuban slugger begins, buds and grows will ultimately shape how Puig performs on the field.
