Puig acquires new representation
SAN DIEGO — Yasiel Puig has found an agent.
After being dumped by his representatives from the Wasserman agency in February, Puig has signed with Beverly Hills Sports Council, his new agency announced Monday. Puig will be represented by Dan Horwits and Cesar Suarez.
Puig can become a free agent after the 2019 season. He will be paid $7.5 million in 2018.
Puig is off to a rough start this year after a bounce-back campaign in 2017. He is hitting .222 with a .580 on-base-plus-slugging percentage.
“If I don’t hit,” Puig told The Times in February, “no agent is ever going to get me any contract or money.”
It is unclear why Puig and Wasserman parted ways. The agency announced it had terminated the relationship with him, but Adam Katz, Puig’s primary representative, has declined further comment. Puig also declined to discuss the split.
Asked this month about his discussions with BHSC, Puig declined to discuss the subject.
“Write what you want,” he said through interpreter Jesus Quinonez.
Hernandez hits third
Despite his .561 OPS heading into the game, Enrique Hernandez batted third Monday against San Diego left-handed starter Robbie Erlin.
The Dodgers believe in Hernandez’s ability against left-handed pitchers, despite his early struggles. He responded with an RBI single in the third inning.
“We’re trying to give [Hernandez] a little bit of a runway,” manager Dave Roberts said.
The Dodgers have rotated through hitters in the No. 3 spot as Justin Turner recovers from a fractured wrist. Matt Kemp, Puig and Yasmani Grandal all have hit third in Turner’s absence.
Sticking with rotation
With a day off Thursday, the Dodgers will give each member of the starting rotation an extra day of rest.
Rich Hill will start Friday against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium, with Clayton Kershaw slated for Saturday and Hyun-Jin Ryu for Sunday.
The Dodgers manipulated their rotation earlier in the season to keep Kershaw on his regular schedule.
The rest of the pitchers struggled in the aftermath. Kenta Maeda pitched only once during a 12-day span and struggled with command against Arizona last week.