Dodgers option Puig to make room for Reddick, Chavez

Depending on your perception of things, it would seem the Puig situation has managed to overshadow the team’s move earlier in the day to acquire both starting pitching and outfield help for the stretch drive.

If he declined arbitration, he is owed over $17 million during the next two seasons. Reddick is nearly surely ticketed for right field to take over for Puig, who has had another disappointing season. Those numbers dropped precipitously in 2015 as he battled hamstring injuries; Puig batted just.255 on the season and only had six more hits (72) than strikeouts (66). However, this should serve as a further warning for readers to be leery of anonymous sources, even if the reporter presenting them is generally quite credible. But Puig’s agent, and his team, maintain he never went to the stadium in the first place.

Puig expressed his desire to remain with the Dodgers on Sunday, but he acknowledged the situation is beyond his control, per Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.

The drama is the Yasiel Puig saga continues as the Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder made a huge mistake. Even though the Dodgers acquired Josh Reddick from the A’s, they weren’t able to set up a deal to yield another outfielder, so they weren’t able to deal Puig. Although he has played solid defense again this year, he has not hit well at all.

The Los Angeles Dodgers found no takers for Yasiel Puig by Monday’s trade deadline. Puig has not played up to par with his first splash in baseball, leaving some concerned about failing to reach the hyped potential, or perhaps maxing out with his production before anyone in the organization would have hoped.

The Dodgers are now two games behind the Giants for first place in the National League West. Are they willing to take on the monetary risk? It’s hard to see the White Sox pulling that trigger. The Dodgers’ offense has stepped up in Kershaw’s absence, but they likely won’t be a legitimate World Series contender if their ace can’t get back on the mound.

Dodgers players, including Kershaw and Van Slyke, did not completely dismiss the story this past January, speaking in vague generalities instead.