Dodgers Sign Yasiel Puig

It wasn’t quite the level of Yoenis Cespedes or Jorge Soler, but the Dodgers – who couldn’t land either of those

players despite their rumored attempts – signed a skilled Cuban defector yesterday.  According to MLB.com, the Los Angeles Dodgers have signed Yasiel Puig.

The Dodgers and Puig are cutting the deal close.  In order to avoid the rules of the new CBA, the finalized deal, including physical and MLB approval, must be done by Monday.  If the deal is not completed by then, the most the Dodgers can spend to sign Puig is $2.9 million unless they are willing to be penalized by Major League Baseball.

Enrique Rojas of ESPN is reporting the deal to be worth $42 million over seven years.  The overall total is surprising considering Puig’s perceived talent verse both Cespedes and Soler.  Both signed lesser deals and are considered by most to be better players.

"“Puig’s contract with the Dodgers should be completed by Friday. The young man could play in the major leagues this year, maybe in time to help with the race for the playoffs or the World Series,” said the source, who added that the agreement includes some clauses that could permit Puig to become a free agent after his fourth year."

Puig is just 21 years old and hit .330 in the Cuban National Series.  He is fast and has some pop, but the question is whether the Dodgers paid too much.  The White Sox were working on a deal, but the Dodgers came in and offered the young man a deal he simply couldn’t pass up.  Could they have got him for less?  Maybe.  Is he worth less?  As it stands today, without a single Major League game to his name, absolutely.

Under the new ownership group headed by Magic Johnson, the Dodgers were looking to make a move that told the baseball world the team was ready to compete.  This may have been that statement, but it may have backfired.  Not many understand the ill-advised contract, but should Puig work out well and the Dodgers make the postseason, there won’t be very many complaints.

For more on the Dodgers, be sure to check out Lasorda’s Lair.