After two straight years where the Los Angeles Dodgers ended their season in the World Series without a trophy, the team is apparently ready to mix it up. Friday evening brought a gentle glow to baseballs hot stove, as the Dodgers traded a package that includes Yasiel Puig to the Cincinnati Reds.
Puig, an enigmatic outfielder for the Dodgers, will be moved along with pitcher Alex Wood and left fielder Matt Kemp. The deal was first dropped by Yahoo’s Jeff Passan, who broke the news that Puig would be headed to Ohio next season.
Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig and Alex Wood have been traded to the Cincinnati Reds, league sources tell Yahoo Sports. Homer Bailey is one of the players going back to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The return for the Dodgers clearly will be more.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 21, 2018
The full deal includes Los Angeles getting a veteran arm in Homer Bailey, along with a pair of prospects.
The full deal, as @JonHeyman and @Joelsherman1 said, is:
Reds get: Yasiel Puig, Alex Wood, Matt Kemp, Kyle Farmer and $7M
Dodgers get: Homer Bailey, SS/2B Jeter Downs, RHP Josiah Gray.
(Downs is 20, Gray 21. Both are high-round picks who are favorites of scouts.)
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 21, 2018
With two outfielders gone from Los Angeles, some speculated that the deal may be clearing the way for the Dodgers to sign Bryce Harper. But Passan said the team is still in luxury tax danger and a deal with the coveted free agent isn’t assured … but of course, Harper is the kind of player for whom any price tag can be justified, especially for a team like the Dodgers that has World Series aspirations.
For those shipping the Dodgers and Bryce Harper: After the trade, the Dodgers' luxury-tax payroll is going to be more than $180M, including the money they're sending to Cincinnati. If they want to stay under, Harper isn't happening. If that's not a concern, it's a possibility.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 21, 2018
There’s a mad dash to acquire Harper’s services, and if this was indeed a move to make signing him more feasible, the Dodgers have done exactly what they needed to do to get in on the race.
