MLB Rumors: Yasiel Puig may be done in Los Angeles

By Brad Weiss | Jul 29, 2016

Jul 6, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) reacts after striking out in the 10th inning of the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Dodger Stadium. Orioles win 6-4 in 14 innings. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig may be headed out of La-La Land.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig has been a constant in the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup since he defected from Cuba in 2012. Puig made his Major League debut in 2013, and since then, he has become a fan favorite in L.A. However, he also has been a lightning rod of controversy, and he may be moved before the trade deadline.

ESPN’s Buster Olney tweeted out on Friday that the Dodgers are looking to add Jay Bruce to the fold as they make their playoff push. In order to do that, they may have to part ways with their star outfielder:

If the talks that @jaysonst reported reach the finish line and Jay Bruce lands with LAD, could signal end of Puig's time as Dodger mainstay.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 29, 2016

Fellow ESPN reporter Jayson Stark had this to say in response to Olney’s tweet:

Could signal the end of Puig as a Dodger, period. Heard they've been trying to attach him in deals they've proposed.
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) July 29, 2016

As a rookie in 2013, Puig captivated America, batting .319 with 19 home runs in 104 games. The following year, Puig’s popularity was so high that he was actually the cover-boy for MLB 15: The Show.

Since the start of the 2014 season, the 25-year old Puig has struggled through injuries and inconsistent baseball, often times clashing with his coaches. He hit only .255 in 79 games last season, and has matched that mark this year, with only seven home runs.

As for Bruce, he would be an instant upgrade for the Dodgers, as they try to gain some ground on the NL West-leading San Francisco Giants. Bruce currently leads the National League in runs batted in (79), and has already hit 25 home runs this year. He is one of the more consistent left-handed sticks in all of baseball, and at only 29, has his best years ahead of him.

The Dodgers came into Friday night only two games back of the Giants in the division, and if they can add a bat like Bruce, they should be able to be playing meaningful games in October.

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