If there were any secrets about how disliked Yasiel Puig is in the Dodgers' clubhouse, Andy Van Slyke spilled the beans.
The former center fielder and Mariners first base coach dropped a bombshell about the polarizing outfielder in a radio appearance Thursday, saying the highest paid player on the Dodgers wanted Puig off the team.
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"When the best player - the highest paid player on the Los Angeles Dodgers - goes to the GM and is asked what are [the needs of the club], this particular highest-paid player said, 'The first thing you need to do is get rid of Puig,'" Van Slyke said during an interview on CBS Sports 920 AM (via Deadspin). "That's all you need to know."
Van Slyke is the father of Dodgers' outfielder Scott Van Slyke, so he likely has insider knowledge on the developments between the players. It has previously been reported that Puig has drawn the ire of his teammates in the past, with the issues being chronicled in a book authored by ESPN's Molly Knight entitled, "The Best Team Money Can Buy."
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While Van Slyke wouldn't name names, he strongly hinted that Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was the one who made the remarks. The three-time Cy Young Award winner is currently playing on a seven-year $215 million contract, making him the highest paid player on the Dodgers.
When host Frank Cusumano guessed that it was Adrian Gonzalez who made the comments, Van Slyke said he was wrong. When he brought up Kershaw's name, Van Slyke simply said, "I didn't say his name."
Trust us, Andy, you didn't have to.
It appears Van Slyke, who was fired by the Mariners along with many others this past season, was in a dirt-slinging mood Thursday. The three-time All-Star blasted Seattle second baseman Robinson Cano, blaming him for the firings of manager Lloyd McClendon and general manager Jack Zduriencik, while saying he "played the worst defense" Van Slyke has "ever seen at second base."
"Robinson Cano was the single worst third-place, everyday player I've ever seen - I've ever seen for the first half of a baseball season," Van Slyke said during the interview, according to TheScore.com. "He couldn't drive home Miss Daisy if he tried. He couldn't get a hit when it mattered.
"Robinson Cano cost the GM his job. The hitting coach got fired because of Cano. And the manager and the coaches got fired because of Cano. That's how much impact he has on the organization. He was the worst player and it cost people their jobs in the process."
The audio of Van Slyke ripping Puig and Cano can be found here.
Cano had a miserable first half, but finished with a 287/.334/.446 slash line along with 21 homers in his second season of a 10-year, $240 million contract.
Van Slyke didn't care about the damage Cano did with his bat, because he was "the worst second baseman ever" and "couldn't catch the ball."
The five-time Gold Glove Award winner is either really bad at keeping secrets, or had some drinks before going on the air.
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