Steve Gardner USA TODAY Published 11:04 PM EDT Apr 15, 2019 Clayton Kershaw's return to the mound for his first start of the season coincided with the return of former teammate Yasiel Puig to Los Angeles. And the clash of stars was every bit as dramatic as any Hollywood script could have envisioned. Kershaw retired the first batter of the game on a ground ball to shortstop, then allowed a one-out single before Puig strode to the plate in his usual cool and calm manner. The Dodger Stadium crowd gave him a warm ovation, as they had for the first six seasons of his career, before Puig was traded to the Cincinnati Reds this offseason. Puig even tipped his batting helmet before digging in against Kershaw. And then ... BOOM! Puig hammered an 88 mph slider from Kershaw 405 feet over the fence in left-center field for a 2-0 Reds lead, punctuated by a bat flip. Round 1: Puig by KO. After failing to hit a home run in his first 11 games with the Reds, Puig has now … [Read more...] about Yasiel Puig homers off Clayton Kershaw in return to Dodger Stadium
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Yasiel Puig left behind a complicated Dodgers legacy
Puig came from a place that inhibited freedom off the field, but encouraged panache on it, Jansen said. As a native of Curacao, Jansen empathized with Puig’s difficulty transitioning to life in the U.S. In the Caribbean, time is a fluid concept. “Five minutes late? That’s still on time,” Jansen said. “Here, it’s like ‘You are late.’” … [Read more...] about Yasiel Puig left behind a complicated Dodgers legacy
Yasiel Puig aims to revive his career with Reds after frustrating year with Dodgers
“I’m supposed to play every day,” Puig said. “All my teammates know, my coaches know, and everybody knows when I play every day, and I have more opportunities, I can do what I do, and what I’m supposed to do. Like I do in the playoffs and the World Series. … [Read more...] about Yasiel Puig aims to revive his career with Reds after frustrating year with Dodgers
Dodgers send outfielders Puig, Kemp to Reds in MLB deal
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielders Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig, who helped the club reach this year's World Series, went to Cincinnati in a Major League Baseball trade Friday. The deal saw the Reds, who were a woeful 67-95 last season, also receive pitcher Alex Wood, catcher Kyle Farmer and $7 million while sending pitchers Homer Bailey and Josiah Gray and shortstop Jeter Downs to the Dodgers. The move clears the way for the Dodgers to chase free agent outfielder Bryce Harper, a star for the Washington Nationals in past campaigns, by trimming payroll -- potentially saving as much as $15 million -- and clearing outfield jobs. The Dodgers reached the World Series in each of the past two seasons, losing in October to Boston and last year to Houston. Kemp, 34, smacked 21 home runs and drove in 85 runs while hitting .290 as an MLB All-Star Game selection for the Dodgers last season while Puig, a 28-year-old Cuban, batted .267 with 23 homers and 63 runs batted in. Both would become free agents … [Read more...] about Dodgers send outfielders Puig, Kemp to Reds in MLB deal
Dodgers-Reds trade: Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp among players on the move
Jesse Yomtov USA TODAY Published 5:49 PM EST Dec 21, 2018 The Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers pulled off a huge trade Friday that could pave the way for free agent Bryce Harper to end up in Chavez Ravine. Cincinnati receives outfielders Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp, as well as left-handed pitcher Alex Wood in the deal. In return, the Dodgers get right-handed pitcher Homer Bailey, infield prospect Jeter Downs and pitching prospect Josiah Gray. The Dodgers are also sending $7 million to the Reds in the deal. The trade clears two players from the Dodgers' outfield logjam, which many speculate could be the precursor to the club signing Harper, who is thought to be seeking the largest deal in baseball history. It also frees up some room in the Dodgers' 2019 payroll. Kemp is due $21.75 million with the Padres paying $3.5 million of that, while Puig and Wood are each expected to receive about $10 million via arbitration in 2019. All three players the Reds received are … [Read more...] about Dodgers-Reds trade: Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp among players on the move