Dodgers Rumors: Possible Trade Packages for Yasiel Puig
By Jason Reed
Once again, connections between a Ryan Braun trade and the Los Angeles Dodgers are surfacing, this time seeming more serious than before. It is no secret that the Dodgers have huge struggles against left-handed pitching, and while Puig is a good option, Ryan Braun is a great option. The former MVP shines facing both left-handers and right-handers, something the Dodgers need.
I feel like a lot of fans have this feeling that Ryan Braun fell off the map since his steroid scandal, but that is not the case. Last season Braun batted .305, slugged 30 home runs, and drove in 91 runs. He still has speed stealing 18 bases, and only struck out 98 times in 564 plate appearances.
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Against left-handed pitching the Silver Slugger bats a godly .337 in his career, slugging 87 home runs in only 1292 at-bats. For a Dodgers team that is often shut down against left-handed pitching, and is arguably the worst in the league, having Braun’s bat in the four hole would instantly improve their championship chances.
I would go as far to say that this deal would make the Dodgers the favorites to win the World Series. They could have beaten the Cubs if only they could hit left-handed pitching, and likely could have beaten the Indians and their right-handed dominated staff.
The Dodgers would need to give up Puig in return, and likely more than I estimated as the Brewers will notice the Dodgers desperation. I would not be surprised to see Yadier Alvarez, the team’s number two pitching prospect behind Julio Urias, sent instead of Oaks.
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Regardless, this deal for Braun is the most sensible if the Dodgers were to send Puig away. If they could get the deal done without Puig, great, but according to these Dodgers rumors, we may be saying goodbye to the wild horse.