Dodgers Trade Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp To Reds In Salary Dump Deal

The Dodgers have seemingly found a way to try and sign prized free agent outfielder Bryce Harper.

On Friday night, the Dodgers sent Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp, Kyle Farmer, and Alex Wood to the Reds in exchange for pitcher Homer Bailey, who went 1-14 last year, as well as minor league shortstop Jeter Downs and rookie ball pitcher Josiah Gray. Downs and Gray are the seventh and twentieth ranked prospects in the Reds system, respectively.

Bailey is expected to be released by the Dodgers once the deal goes through.

Bailey, owed $25M, expected to be released by #Dodgers after trade. Deal will still benefit LAD from a luxury-tax perspective. Puig projected to earn $11.3M in arbitration and Wood $9M, per @MLBTradeRumors, and Kemp still owed significant sum (unclear what exact number is).

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 21, 2018

All three players the Reds are getting, Kemp, Puig, and Wood are set to be free agents after 2019.

While on the surface the trade may seem like it’s a lock for the Dodgers to get Harper, they would perhaps need to make a few other moves to get under the luxury tax.

For those shipping the Dodgers and Bryce Harper: After the trade, the Dodgers' luxury-tax payroll is going to be more than $180M, including the money they're sending to Cincinnati. If they want to stay under, Harper isn't happening. If that's not a concern, it's a possibility.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 21, 2018