The Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t get as much out of star outfielder Yasiel Puig as they would have hoped, which is one of the reasons why he was traded in December.
Now, Puig has opened up with a troubling admission that should give teams a reason to balk at offering him a huge long-term deal after this coming season.
“The last couple of years, I didn’t work hard because I still have a contract to go,” Puig said, per Cincinnati.com. “Now, I think work harder than any year of my life.”
So, the 28-year-old basically is saying the reason he’s inclined to “work harder than any year of my life” is because he’s in a contract year on a one-year deal in Cincinnati.
The fact that he admitted his failings is great, but then to follow it up with a justification that it’s going to be different because he’s trying to land a big contract is a bad look.
One of the most naturally gifted players in the league, Puig’s star could shine all the brighter if he approached the game with the same dogged professionalism many of his peers have.