Los Angeles Dodgers: Grading every significant move of the offseason

2. Trade with Cincinnati Reds — F

If you are reading this and you disagree with my sentiments about the trade with the Cincinnati Reds then you probably think I am one of the many fans that are just upset about the trade because Yasiel Puig is no longer a Dodger.

And while it is upsetting to see Puig with the Reds, I understand the business side of things and support any move the front office makes so long as it makes the team better. This move did nothing for the Dodgers and is a bit bewildering to me.

The Los Angeles Dodgers essentially dumped Puig, Alex Wood and Matt Kemp on the Cincinnati Reds for two prospects and a return contract in Homer Bailey. While Kemp’s defense was an issue, Puig and Wood could have played a playoff role.

After arbitrations numbers for Puig and Wood were revealed it was clear that the Dodgers only saved $10.2 million in luxury tax space for the 2019 season. After the $7 million cash that the Dodgers sent to cover up Kemp’s contract, the Dodgers saved just $3.2 million in total.

The Dodgers did not have to trade Yasiel Puig to free up that money. The team could have simply just cut Matt Kemp and trade Alex Wood for a low-tier top-30 prospect and the team would have saved $8.9 million opposed to the $10.2 million.

I get the idea of getting prospects but this made it seem like the Dodgers were gearing up for something big and that is not the case. It resulted in nothing when Puig could have still fit on this team, playing in right field with Alex Verdugo in left and A.J. Pollock in center.

It just makes no sense. It did not help the team accomplish anything aside from add two decent prospects. As a contending team with an already great farm, those prospects don’t really mean much.