Just Mets

Yasiel Puig is an electrifying player, capable of controlling a game with both his offense and defense at any given moment. He has had a rough season in 2015 thanks in large measure to a hamstring injury which kept him out of action at the beginning of the season. But he’s essentially a five-tool phenom with power and spee and an outstanding throwing arm in the outfield.

Puig’s contract is also very team-friendly. He is earning $4.5 million in 2015, $5.5 million in 2016, $6.5 million in 2017, and $7.5 million in 2018. He’s the kind of player and value who, if he’s right and healthy, can transform a roster.

But he has his share of problems, specifically with his behavior and histrionics on the field. So much so he’s riled up his teammates during his time in Los Angeles and been subject to disciplinary action by manager Don Mattingly.

The ongoing antics have led to speculation the Dodgers could look to move Puig ahead of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

In fact, Yahoo’s Tim Brown recently told SNY.tv’s Rob Brender that LA’s front office will listen to offers on just about anyone, including Puig, although top prospect Corey Seager remains out of bounds in trade talks.

But Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported on Saturday Puig has been assured by Dodger brass he will not be moved this summer.

Despite that reassurance from Dodger brass, Jon Morosi of FOX Sports/MLB Network believes Puig will be moved ahead of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, and believes the Mets and Phillies matchup well with the Dodgers as trade partners for Puig.

The point is, these are the Dodgers. They’re free spenders and president Andrew Friedman and Stan Kasten have shown no hesitation in their willingness to mold this roster over the last year. They’ve gotten rid of star players, acquired star players and have remained a top-tiered team in the game while doing so.

Both the Phillies and the Mets have what the Dodgers need: pitching. As Morosi said on-air, Ian Thomas was the 13th starting pitcher the Dodgers have used this season, although in this case he was being used as a fill-in for Zack Greinke who went on paternity leave and will pitch against the Mets on Sunday.

The Dodgers could use both starting pitching and bullpen help. Despite having the third-best team ERA in the sport at 3.24 and both Grienke and Clayton Kershaw at the top of the rotation, there’s a steep falloff behind both of them, evident by their need to use so many starting pitchers in 2015.

From a starting pitching perspective, the Phillies matchup better with the Dodgers simply because they’re willing to trade Cole Hamels, and the Mets will not trade any of the four young starting pitchers in their rotation right now. That group doesn’t include Jon Niese or Zack Wheeler, but Wheeler can’t help them today, and Los Angeles needs help now. And with all due respect to Niese, Hamels, Johnny Cueto, David Price, and other top shelf starters are a tad more attractive to the Dodgers than Niese is, as good as he’s been over the last two months.

However, while Sandy Alderson has said he is not interested in moving Niese, the Mets would consider moving Niese for a significant bat this summer, reports Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, despite the shortage they would have in the rotation with Steven Matz on the disabled list. However, Niese has yet to garner much trade interest with so many ace-caliber arms available on the trade market.

If the Dodgers are not willing to meet the cost in prospects for those pitchers, then maybe they’d consider someone like Niese, who would be a good fit in the middle of their rotation as a plan B. The Mets would presumably have to kick in more to get a player like Puig, such one or more of the players in the Brandon Nimmo/Gavin Cecchini/Dominic Smith/Michael Fulmer class, but the Mets do have the chips to get a deal done with Los Angeles if they’re both willing to dance.

But while the Dodgers need help in their rotation, they also are desperate for bullpen pieces as well, as their 3.61 bullpen ERA is the ninth worst in baseball.

However, the Dodgers still matchup better than the Mets in a trade like this, as they’re willing to trade Jonathan Papelbon who would pretty much solve their late-inning problems and make them a legitimate World Series contender.

Then there’s the issue over whether or not a team – whether its the Mets, Phillies or someone else – should pay the price with Puig’s behavior in exchange for what he brings to the baseball field.

There’s a worthy debate for both sides of the argument.