That, combined with his projected salary of more than $11 million for the upcoming season, has resulted in industry-wide speculation the Dodgers will finally trade their temperamental outfielder this offseason, perhaps next week at baseball’s winter meetings in Las Vegas.
This makes a certain degree of sense. Puig remains an inconsistent producer and the team’s surplus of outfielders makes him expendable.
Maybe there is a trade to be made. Maybe Andrew Friedman can trick someone into sending the Dodgers a front-line pitcher such as Corey Kluber for a package that includes Puig.
However, considering recent history, a level of optimism bordering on delusion is required to believe that such a deal exists.