Just when it appeared as though (now) 27-year-old oft-controversial Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig had finally … finally grown up, he reportedly had some sort of transgression that led to him being “terminated” by the Wasserman Group, a highly respected agency that represent some of the biggest names in professional sports, on Wednesday afternoon.

Although the exact reason for this highly unusual move was not – and may never be – revealed, one reliable baseball source reported that it was because of “behavior the agency could not accept.” That being said, indications are that it is / was an in-house Wasserman thing and does not affect his status with the Dodgers organization … not yet, at least.

As most Dodger fans know all to well, the 6′-4″ / 240-pound Cienfuegos, Cuba native, whom the Dodgers signed as an international free agent after his harrowing defection from Cuba in 2012, has had issues in the past, including reckless driving up to and including reports of domestic violence. Those issues, however, were handled by the Dodgers and Major League Baseball, not the people who make their money off of Puig and the lofty 7-year / $42 million contract given to him before he appeared in even one professional game in the United States.

(Source: Baseballprospectus.com)

Perhaps the most unusual part of this situation is its timing. After the 2018 season, Puig’s last under full team control, he becomes arbitration-eligible in 2019 and a free agent in 2020 when he (and the Wasserman Group) stand (stood) to potentially make a lot of money. And though there has yet to be any word as to who might now be willing to represent Puig moving forward, it’s hard – perhaps even impossible – to believe that noted sports agent Scott Boras (often referred to as baseball’s Antichrist) won’t at least kick the tires on possibly bringing Yasiel on board as a potential client.

I mean, let’s face it … who else licks their bat before stepping into the batters box, right?
(Photo credit – Jayne Kamin-Oncea)

It’s probably safe to say that we haven’t heard the last of the unusual story.

Stay tuned…