Yasiel Puig could be heading out of Los Angeles sooner rather than later
The Dodgers hopes of playing in October is looking more and more like a possibility, but taking Yasiel Puig along for the ride might not happen.
As the Dodgers shorten the Giants’ lead in the NL West and continue to stay a top the NL Wild Card race with the hot Marlins behind them, many questions remain about Yasiel Puig’s future.
If the Dodgers continue to get healthy, and keep playing top notch baseball, anything can happen.
Los Angeles’ road to their fourth consecutive postseason appearance shouldn’t come with any struggles other than beating themselves.
It also makes it easier that the Dodgers have the fifth easiest remaining schedule in all of the MLB — which should come as a relief, but shouldn’t be taken lightly as every game in the MLB is challenging enough to get a win.
The question that lies with the Dodgers is whether they could win the World Series this season with the current roster they have?
If not, then what must be done to ensure that the Dodgers could bring a World Series title back to Los Angeles, since winning it in 1988?
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This year the non-waiver trade deadline lies on a Sunday (July 31), and was decided by MLB to move the deadline a day back.
The change will give teams like the Dodgers another day to plan out what moves must be made to upgrade the roster before 4 PM ET on August 1st.
With August 1st approaching soon, the speculation and rumors have started to surround the Dodgers clubhouse on who is on the move, and who will be next to put on the Dodgers blue.
Plenty of that speculation has been focused around Yasiel Puig, which makes sense, but is it the right kind of noise?
The Dodgers current outfield situation has Puig in right with Joc Pederson in center, and Howie Kendrick in left field with Andrew Toles and Zach Walters to come off the bench when called upon.
Andre Ethier is set to come back sometime in late August, and Trayce Thompson is on the 15-day DL with a lower back irritation.
So with the Dodgers under-peforming outfield, a trade surrounding Yasiel Puig wouldn’t be so harsh if they received someone like Jay Bruce, or Josh Reddick to replace him.
Both Bruce, and Reddick would surely be an offensive upgrade over Puig, but Bruce would be a downgrade on the defensive side of the ball.
With that in mind, Reddick would be the better option if the Dodgers wanted to upgrade the right field position.
It would be ludicrous if Puig would to be traded for another starting pitcher, or for some bullpen help.
I would change my mind on a Puig trade if it surrounded the latest rumor on Chris Archer, and Evan Longoria, or some big names that would definitely bolster the superstar status of this team.
After the trade deadline, they’ll be two outcomes for the Dodgers.
The first will consist of the Dodgers receiving a new starting pitcher (hint: Chris Archer), and more bullpen help.
Second, Puig stays put in L.A.
Honestly, even though Puig makes you wonder at times, and is inconsistent, I don’t think the Dodgers will be happy with the offers they receive for Puig unless used in a package deal.
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If Puig does get traded, and the Dodgers don’t receive any right fielder in return, Trayce Thimpson is my only option that could fill in for Puig.
But that’s only if Thompson could make contact with the bat.