MLB Rumors: Could The Cleveland Indians Target A Trade For Yasiel Puig?

The MLB trade deadline is just a couple weeks away, and the rumors are beginning to heat up. Now that the All-Star game is in the books, it is time to begin focusing on the stretch run and how teams can improve and become a serious contender. There are a lot of teams who will be looking to improve their roster at the deadline, while there are quite a few more who are out of contention and will want to sell off their talent.

One team that could be looking to make a move is the Cleveland Indians, who have become serious contenders. They could use some help in the outfield, and there is one player that would make a lot of sense for them.

According to a report from Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the Los Angeles Dodgers could trade outfielder Yasiel Puig.

Puig would be a huge pickup for the Indians and would be an upgrade for them in the outfield. He is a solid defensive presence on the diamond, and his bat has a lot of potential. There are still issues surrounding Puig’s consistency, but if he can figure things out, there is no question that he will become a star.

Throughout the course of the 2016 MLB season thus far with the Dodgers, Puig has compiled a.256 batting average to go along with seven home runs and 28 RBI’s. He has a lot of work to do, but he has plenty of time to finish that work up and reach his full potential. Cleveland seriously believes that they have a chance to contend for a championship this season, which makes them very likely to be aggressive on the trade market.

At 25-years-old, there is absolutely nothing holding Puig back from being a star. His work ethic hasn’t been perfect, and he will need to tighten things up moving forward. Perhaps a change of scenery would be just what the doctor ordered for him.

Los Angeles isn’t going to deal him just to make a trade. They will be more than happy to hang onto their current roster throughout the rest of the 2016 season. That being said, if the Indians offer a fair deal, they will have a good chance at bringing him to “the Rock and Roll Capital of the World.”

Cleveland holds a 52-36 record coming out of the All-Star break, and the city has 100 percent faith in their team. After watching the Cleveland Cavaliers win the NBA Finals to bring a professional championship home, the fans know that anything is possible. The Indians aren’t as good on paper as a few other teams, but that doesn’t count them out.

It will be interesting to see what the trade deadline holds, to say the very least. There is the potential for a lot of moves to be made and some high profile players to change teams. Puig may not be a superstar, but he is one of the most polarizing players in baseball.

Expect to see the Indians be very aggressive as the trade deadline continues to draw closer. They know that they have put together a contending roster and adding a piece or two could put them over the top. Puig would certainly be a big addition to their lineup and likely wouldn’t cost too terribly much in return.

There is a chance that the Indians will fall apart in the second half of the season, but that certainly doesn’t appear to be the case at this point in time.

Do you think that the Cleveland Indians should target a trade for Yasiel Puig if the Los Angeles Dodgers do indeed put him on the trade block? Do you think the Indians should be considered serious World Series contenders? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below!

[AP Photo/David Zalubowski]