Los Angeles Dodgers: Three players to target from the Mets for Yasiel Puig
By Jason Reed
![LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 03: Yasiel Puig #66 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts as he challenges an out call stealing second base during the third inning against the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium on September 3, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 03: Yasiel Puig #66 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts as he challenges an out call stealing second base during the third inning against the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium on September 3, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/ad68898586414b7cad2469aa8a31c2b7cf7ae978a80204a07f33f12c2f48630d.jpg)
3. Travis d’Arnaud
Don’t get me wrong, if there is a way to land Corey Kluber in a trade focused around Yasiel Puig then I would make it in a heartbeat. However, if that falls through and Puig is really disgruntled and Bryce Harper wants to be a Dodger, I would not making a deal with the Mets that knocks out two birds with one stone.
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Yasiel Puig could be packaged around Will Smith and Edwin Rios in exchange for Zack Wheeler and Travis d’Arnaud. d’Arnaud by himself would not be a great return for Puig but I certainly would not mind him in a bigger package.
This would allow the Dodgers to knock out two birds with one stone. The team would be adding starting pitching depth as well as adding a platoon mate to Austin Barnes behind the plate.
d’Arnaud does not have great numbers but he is good defensively and has some pop in his swing that can be showcased with the right matchups. He and Barnes would make a good tandem behind the plate and both guys would likely get the most out of each other.
His timeline fits the Dodgers as well as he is in his last year of arbitration in 2019 before becoming a free agent prior to the 2020 season. This gives Keibert Ruiz one more year to mature in the minor leagues before coming up in 2020 to serve as the everyday catcher with Barnes as the backup.
Plus, adding Wheeler and d’Arnaud would actually make room for the Dodgers under the luxury tax to sign Bryce Harper. While it is not a massive figure, the Dodgers would be saving around $6-8 million in this deal.
Next. Moves to make to set up for Bryce Harper. dark
All in all, I am not completely in love with trading Yasiel Puig to the New York Mets if Noah Syndergaard is not involved. But if it has to be done, I am more than down for this package.