Dodgers option Yasiel Puig to minors

The Dodgers have optioned outfielder Yasiel Puig to the minor leagues.

The Dodgers have optioned outfielder Yasiel Puig to the minor leagues, the club announced on Tuesday.

Los Angeles informed Puig that he would be sent down if the club was unable to find a trading partner before Monday’s 4 p.m. non-waiver trade deadline, so the move was expected. 

The Dodgers acquired outfielder Josh Reddick and pitchers Rich Hill and Jesse Chavez before the deadline, so Puig was one of the players sent down to make room. The team also optioned Ross Stripling and Josh Fields.

The 25-year-old Cuban has struggled in 81 games this season, batting just batting .260 with a .706 OPS. He has regressed since hitting .319 his rookie season three years ago and finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting.

Puig is owed $8.2 million next season and $9.2 million in 2018. The Dodgers could still place him on waivers and attempt to trade him that way.