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MLB Rumors: 5 teams Yasiel Puig could restart his career with

By Matt Whitener

Jul 20, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) hits a double against the Washington Nationals during the fourth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 20, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) hits a double against the Washington Nationals during the fourth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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A change of scenery could reignite the controversial Dodger outfielder’s career

The career of Yasiel Puig has officially hit a complete and total 180 degree turn from where it was just three years ago this season. Long gone is the phenomenon of 2013 who became one of the most exciting Los Angeles Dodger phenoms ever (in a long line of them), who brought an unprecedented combination of speed, power, arm and enthusiasm to the field –all of which was still in the form of raw potential.

Yet, those days are so far away now it seems as if they may have never existed. Since 2015, Puig has only managed to play in a single season’s worth of games, and that play has been a far cry from what once was. His OPS has dropped nearly 200 points, he has driven in three more runs than he did in 2014 alone and he has barely produced one game above replacement level, after totaling better than 10 during his first year and a half.

Add in the string of run-ins with teammates, multiple managers and off field issues to his eroded play and it was clear that Puig had become far more trouble than was worth attempting to find a way to utilize for Dave Roberts and the Dodgers.

Puig was banished off to the club’s Triple A affiliate in Oklahoma City earlier this month, if for no other reason than to just get him out of everybody’s way. And while he has produced the expected type of results throughout his early stay in the minors (a .364 batting average including a home run and five RBI through three games), he has offset it with yet another incident in his long line of stunningly inept poor decisions made. This time it was in the form of recording a clubhouse and postgame party with his new teammates – after a loss.

Part of what he was sent down to accomplish was to re-center himself and get refocused on baseball, and baseball alone. And this most recent inability to do so could be the final nail in his coffin as a Dodger.

However, a player of his extreme upside (he does not turn 26 until December) would still be able to find a home elsewhere in the league. And likely that will be the outcome sooner than later. So where is the best fit for Puig to end his exile and attempt to resurrect his standing in the game? Here are five locations that could afford him another chance.

Next: 5. San Diego Padres

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