Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times is reporting that there is industry-wide speculation that the Los Angeles Dodgers could trade outfielder Yasiel Puig this offseason.
Hernandez notes that the right-handed hitting Puig became upset in 2018 when he was placed in a platoon situation. Oddly, Puig’s struggles have actually come against left-handed pitching with a .628 OPS against them in 2018 and .592 OPS in 2017.
Puig, 28 today, hit .267/.327/.494 overall in 2018 with 21 doubles, 23 homers, 63 RBI and 15 stolen bases. The Cuban posted a 2.7 bWAR and 1.8 fWAR in 118 games this year.
He has experience in left and center field, though he’s primarily a right-fielder, where he has 40 defensive runs saved in six seasons at the position. Puig was a Gold Glove finalist in 2017 when had 18 DRS in right field.
Puig is estimated to make $11.3 million through arbitration in 2019, his last season before hitting free agency.
The Mets currently only have four outfielders on the 40-man roster in Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo, Yoenis Cespedes and Juan Lagares.
