Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig suffered through an up-and-down 2015 season and only played in 79 games thanks to two separate stints on the disabled list. He also started only one of the five games in his team’s loss to the New York Mets in the National League Division Series.
President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman believes the outfielder's weight was one reason for the health issues.
Friedman commented on Puig and the Dodgers’ desire for him to lose that weight in a report by Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times: “That’s a focus. He has continued to get bigger and stronger each year. It may not be the optimal size for him to play 150 games, 150-plus games.”
It is a tricky balance because adding strength would likely result in more power at the plate, but Los Angeles needs the outfielder on the field. Friedman did acknowledge “the reports have been great,” regarding Puig’s regular contact with strength and conditioning coach Brandon McDaniel.
The Dodgers outfield is something of a question mark this offseason after Puig missed so much time with injury (and set career lows with a .255 average, 11 home runs and 38 RBI) and Joc Pederson hit .178 with six home runs after the All-Star break. Pederson drilled 20 home runs in the first half of the season but looked lost at the plate by October.
Hernandez said Los Angeles could look for Puig and Pederson to bounce back in the 2016 season “rather than pursue any offensive difference-makers on the free-agent market.”
The Hernandez article also pointed out Friedman wants to see Puig work on his swing mechanics in addition to his efforts to become leaner (listed at 6'2", 255 pounds by Baseball-Reference.com).
Trading Puig is one option during the offseason, but he will only be 25 years old during the 2016 campaign. He is also under club control for three more seasons and recently played 148 games in 2014 and hit .296 with 37 doubles and 16 home runs.
If he can return to a similar form next year, the Dodgers will be a much more formidable offensive club.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com
- Login to post comments