What you need to know about the Dodgers-Reds trade
Tim Kurkjian discusses the Dodgers’ trade involving Yasiel Puig, a move that opens up outfield space to go after Bryce Harper. (2:07)
Friday’s trade between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds is a big deal for a number of reasons. First off, seven players changed hands, with outfielders Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp, left-hander Alex Wood and catcher Kyle Farmer heading to Cincinnati (along with cash considerations), while veteran right-hander Homer Bailey and two prospects, infielder Jeter Downs and right-hander Josiah Gray are heading L.A.’s way.
From the free agents set to cash in to the big-name stars sure to come up in trade rumors all winter long, keep up with all of the latest action.
But those seven names aren’t the only data points to take away from the trade. From ESPN Stats & Information research, here are some key numbers to know about this trade:
• Perhaps the most important part of the trade is the money involved. While the salaries of Puig and Wood for 2019 have yet to be determined — their arbitration hearings will be in January — Kemp, Puig and Alex Wood should be due roughly $42 million combined in salary next season.
On the debit side for the Dodgers, Homer Bailey will be owed $28 million if his contract gets bought out, but the luxury tax hit will be $17.5 million. And with the $7 million from the Dodgers to the Reds, it comes out to a net savings of about a $17.5 million for L.A. relative to the 2019 luxury tax threshold. And by trading away two of their starting outfielders, they now have an open opportunity to make an offer to free agent Bryce Harper as well as being better able to afford him.
The Dodgers are experts at baseball money-laundering. They have cleared the slate for Harper, if they can work it out:
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman: “Where it leads us from here, I’m not sure. But I do think we have some flexibility.”
• Puig led the Dodgers in triples (19), home runs (108) and extra-base hits (256) in the 2013-18 seasons. He also hit .292 over the past two postseasons, the fourth-highest average in the majors among the 28 players with at least 50 at-bats in the playoffs, and his 18 RBIs across the past two Octobers is tied for second.
• Kemp is one of only four active players with 200-plus home runs and 150 or more stolen bases, with 280 homers and 183 steals. The others are Ryan Braun (322 and 204), Andrew McCutchen (218 and 184) and Brandon Phillips (202 and 204).
Thanks to all Dodgers’ fans for the love and support, I’m really going to miss you guys and I’ll see you at spring training but this time with different team!!!!! 👍😊😆🤪👊🏾👌🙌🏼💪🏾🙏👅👀 pic.twitter.com/rgNLUBZ4IP
• Over the past two seasons, Wood has been one winningest pitchers in baseball. Among 72 pitchers with at least 50 starts in that span, only five have a better winning percentage than Wood’s .714. His 3.20 ERA ranks 12th, his 1.12 WHIP ranks 14th and his home run percentage (2.3) was the eight best in MLB within that group.