Report: Puig won't opt out of contract to enter arbitration
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig won't be following in the financial footsteps of fellow Cuban slugger Jose Abreu.
Abreu opted out of the final three years of his contract with the Chicago White Sox on Monday, deciding to instead enter arbitration over the next three years with the hope of making more money.
Puig, who also had the right to opt into the arbitration process this offseason after three years of major-league service time, has decided not to, FOX Sports Ken Rosenthal reports.
This means the 25-year-old will earn $6.5 million in 2017, $7.5 million in 2018, be arbitration eligible in 2019, and can elect for free agency in 2020.
After struggling through the first four months of the season hitting .260/.320/.386 by the end of July, Puig was demoted in August. He made an eventual September return, where his improved performance (.300/.362/.620) earned him at-bats with the club in the postseason.
Over the course of 2016, Puig slashed .263/.323/.416 with 11 home runs and 45 RBIs, a far cry from his strong sophomore campaign where he hit .296/.382/.480 with 16 home runs, 37 doubles, and 69 RBIs.