Yasiel Puig is hoping to get back to the Dodgers soon. (Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports)
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly reiterated Tuesday that the club has no immediate plans to trade right fielder Yasiel Puig.
Puig has been the subject of published reports and speculation that the Dodgers would deal the Cuban right fielder for the right price, a front-line starting pitcher being one of the team’s biggest needs.
“There hasn’t been any kind of talk between me and (the front office) about him being available,” Mattingly said before the Dodgers opened a two-game series with the Oakland A’s at Dodger Stadium. “I don’t know if it’s speculation; I don’t know whatever that would be. I kind of feel like everybody’s always available when you really look at it. But there’s been no talk from the front office to me saying we’re looking to do this or trying to do this (with Puig).
“I’ve read a little bit of it, (but) it hasn’t really filtered down to us. I didn’t hear about it until a day ago or a couple days ago in New York. That was the first I heard about it.”
Despite the rumors, Mattingly downplayed the possibility of the 24-year-old Puig going anywhere. Mattingly added that Puig’s colorful personality and his penchant for showing off skills might contribute to the trade speculation.
“I think Yasiel, obviously, is pretty much a lightning rod in all areas,” Mattingly said. “It doesn’t matter if he’s doing good or doing bad or makes a good throw or makes a bad throw or he gets a hit or doesn’t get a hit. He’s pretty much a lightning rod.
“I really looked at it like this time of year there are so many rumors about guys going everywhere.”
Puig was batting .253 with six home runs and 22 RBIs in 53 games heading into Tuesday’s contest. Though he has homered twice in the previous seven games, he batted .095. In the previous 15 games, Puig hit .173.
An All-Star last season, Puig batted .296 with 16 homers and 69 RBIs in 148 games.
