It’s no secret that Yasiel Puig hasn’t exactly been Mr. Popular on the Los Angeles Dodgers. But the extent to which he has been a problem in the clubhouse is magnified by his relationship with Don Mattingly.
According to a detail from ESPN’s Mark Saxon, Puig and Mattingly did not talk at all toward the end of the manager’s stay with the Dodgers. That apparently was fine with Puig.
From Saxon’s report:
Toward the end of Don Mattingly’s stay as manager, according to clubhouse sources, he and Puig didn’t talk at all. Puig told acquaintances he didn’t care what Mattingly thought about him.
Mattingly is out as Dodgers manager and was hired by the Miami Marlins, but Puig remains with the Dodgers. In the past, he has frustrated the team with his lack of focus and effort. Now the team wants him to lose weight.
Given all of the complaints the Dodgers have privately had about Puig, coupled with his poor relationship with Mattingly, the front office has a lot to think about when it comes to potentially trading the outfielder. Perhaps they will first see if new manager Dave Roberts is able to forge a better relationship with the Cuban slugger that maximizes his talents. Otherwise they might eventually get rid of him, which apparently is something their star pitcher would like.
