Dodgers’ Don Mattingly still dismisses Yasiel Puig trade rumors

The Dodgers returned home Tuesday, and sure enough, there was Yasiel Puig. He showed up only a few minutes before the team was due on the field to stretch, but he was on time, and perhaps more significantly, still in a Dodgers uniform.

Baseball’s nonwaiver trade deadline is Friday and Puig’s name has popped up in trade rumors, which although it could be significant, more likely means very little.

But rumors the Dodgers are willing to move him aren’t going away. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale was reporting Monday the Dodgers had made Puig available, though teams were showing more interest in their prospects.

Manager Don Mattingly continued to maintain Tuesday that there had been no Puig trade discussions he was aware of.

“I’m assuming that if something was really going on, they would tell me,� Mattingly said.

I’d assume so too, though this is the Dodgers’ first year under the Andrew Friedman-Farhan Zaidi front office regime and it’s difficult to be certain how they’ll operate at the trade deadline.

Outwardly, Puig seems unaffected Tuesday by the rumors. He was still loud and preening in the clubhouse Tuesday before the Dodgers’ game with Oakland. Seemed like any other Dodgers’ pregame.

Puig is still only 24, still reeks of untapped potential, is signed to a very reasonable contract and cannot become a free agent until 2019. This is not a player a team would typically look to move. But if he could be dealt to get a No. 1 pitcher in return, the Dodgers would be foolish not to listen.

“Everyone’s always available if you really look at it,� Mattingly said. “But there’s been no talk between the front office to me, saying we’re looking to do this or we’re trying to do this. I read a little bit of it, but it really hasn’t filtered down to us.�

Puig told The Times’ Dylan Hernandez he does not want to be traded, but he recognizes the business aspect to baseball.

“I’ll play anywhere,� Puig said. “I came to the United States [from Cuba] to play baseball. Baseball is the same anywhere. If they want to trade me, that’s their decision. I can’t do anything about that.�

Mattingly said with the popularity of social media, potential trades at the deadline have taken on increased scrutiny and fueled speculation. He said the challenge becomes keeping players focused on the daily task at hand.

“On the field level, you’re really trying to keep guys focused on what we’re doing,� he said. “I’m looking at it like this is our club and we’ll win with this club. We try to keep guys from going outside that.

“I like my club. I think we’re capable the way we stand. That being said, there are always rumors, and speculation and you wonder what’s going on.�