The Los Angeles Dodgers have reached an agreement with the Cincinnati Reds on a deal that sends outfielder Yasiel Puig, pitcher Alex Wood, outfielder Matt Kemp, catcher/infielder Kyle Farmer, and $7 million to the Reds. The Reds sent pitcher Homer Bailey, infielder Jeter Downs, and pitcher Josiah Gray in return to the Dodgers. Bailey is expected to be released by the Dodgers to free up even more cash space, Ken Rosenthal explained it in a tweet, found below.
The Los Angeles Dodgers today acquired minor league IF Jeter Downs, minor league RHP Josiah Gray and RHP Homer Bailey from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for C/IF Kyle Farmer, outfielders Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig, LHP Alex Wood and cash considerations.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) December 21, 2018
Correction: Bailey owed $28M cash ($23M salary, $5M buyout). Luxury-tax number, based on average annual value of his contract, is $17.5M. https://t.co/s19xtIZ2G2
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 21, 2018
In 2018, Puig hit .267 with 23 home runs and 63 RBI’s for the Dodgers, he was a part of their postseason run that ended in a World Series loss to the Boston Red Sox. For the Dodgers in 2018, Wood was 9-7 with an ERA of 3.68 and WHIP of 1.20. Kemp made his return to the Dodgers in 2018, he hit .290 with 21 home runs and 85 RBI’s through 146 games. Though he is projected to be released immediately, Bailey’s 2018 was rough featuring a 6.09 ERA with a 1-14 record. His release will prompt the Dodgers to have more cap room for players like AJ Pollock, and Bryce Harper.
On the prospect side of things, Jeter Downs was a former first-round pick of the Reds who was ranked seventh in their farm system. Gray spent his 2018 featuring a 2.92 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in rookie-ball for the Reds Affiliate. On the other end of the deal, Farmer spent 39 games with the Dodgers last year where he hit .235 at the big league level.
