The Tumultuous Tale of Yasiel Puig Could Have a Happy Ending After All

Welcome home, Puig.

After four weeks of trials and tribulations, the tumultuous tale of Yasiel Puig could end happily as the temperamental and often troubled star returns to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

According to multiple reports, Puig will be called up to the Major League roster on Friday where he could start in right field against San Diego Padres left-hander Clayton Richard.

The Dodgers have called up Yasiel Puig and he should be with the Dodgers in time for Friday's game. — Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) September 2, 2016

It's no secret the Dodgers have struggled against left-handed pitching this year (.218 BA), and Puig's replacement in right field, Josh Reddick, has been atrocious against lefties—and all pitchers for that matter—since he was acquired by the Dodgers from the Oakland Athletics at the trade deadline.

For weeks, the Dodgers and manager Dave Roberts have ducked questions about whether or not Puig would be recalled when rosters expanded on Sept. 1.

Roberts confirmed the promotions of Austin Barnes, Louis Coleman, Luis Avilan, Pedro Baez, and Josh Ravin but would not disclose any information on Puig other than to say, "he's in the discussion."

Those discussions changed on Thursday when Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi decided it was better to leave their grievances with their mercurial star at the door after weeks of watching Reddick and many players on the team struggle against left-handed pitching. 

"We're still trying to figure out what is best for Yasiel," Roberts told reporters on Wednesday before the team's doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies. "With Yasiel, that is still a possibility. But we're still trying to figure out what is best for him and what is best for us."

What is best for the Dodgers in the interim is a right-handed bat to face left-handed pitching down the stretch, especially after the Dodgers were almost no-hit by Giants' lefty Matt Moore and Cubs' ace Jon Lester last week.

If you had asked me four weeks ago if I thought there was any chance that Puig would ever play for the Los Angeles Dodgers again, I would have coined a popular phrase from the NFL's weekly injury report: "Doubtful."

After the front office tried hard to trade Puig on Aug. 1^st, they decided it was in his and the team's best interests to be sent down to the minor leagues where he could work on his off the field issues at Triple-A Oklahoma City.

The Dodgers glaring need for a right-handed bat that could hit left-handed pitching was still a grand canyon-sized gap back then, but the team opted for perennial minor leaguer, Rob Segedin, over keeping Puig in the big leagues.

In just his second game with OKC, Puig posted Snapchat videos of himself and his teammates drinking, singing, screaming, and yelling profanities onboard a party bus that travelled through the streets of Des Moines, Iowa.

The videos went viral and had many in the Dodgers organization shaking their heads. Friedman released a statement saying the team was "disappointed," and later he flew to OKC to meet with Puig face-to-face.

It was in those few days that Friedman and Puig talked that may have been a stepping-stone to where we are now. After returning to Los Angeles, Friedman told reporters that his conversations with Puig were "very good," and after seeing him play firsthand, he was impressed with his improvement.

"He has obviously performed extremely well," Friedman told Bill Plunkett of the OC Register on Aug. 19. "What's more impressive is the work he has been doing on his swing, making adjustments. That process has been fun to watch. All the reports from our staff have been incredibly positive. Witnessing him the past few days has been great because I think a lot of internal conversations we've had with him have really resonated."

Despite the praise, Puig was placed on waivers last week, allowing the Dodgers an opportunity to trade him before the end of the season. Puig was claimed off waivers on Tuesday (reportedly by the Boston Red Sox), but the Dodgers were unable to complete a trade by the end of the Aug. 31 waiver deadline.

Puig batted .348 with four home runs and 12 RBI in just 19 games in Triple-A, and his performance on the field alone  forced Friedman's hand when rosters expanded on Thursday.

There's still a strong possibility that Puig is traded in the offseason, especially if the team is able to re-sign Reddick and Andre Ethier returns healthy. However, if Puig is able to maintain a professional decorum while improving his off the field work ethic, then this story could have a happy ending.

Puig will now have a month to prove he belongs at the Major League level and rekindle his God-given talent that had him revered by fans in 2013. Whether he helps lead his team to the World Series, or is merely auditioning for his future team, his destiny is back in his own hands.