The Brewers won a waiver claim on outfielder Yasiel Puig last month and subsequently engaged in unsuccessful trade talks with the Dodgers, FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal reported on Friday. Neither club has confirmed or commented on the report.
According to Rosenthal, the two clubs made a "legitimate attempt" at a trade, with Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun part of their discussions. Previous reports had indicated that the Dodgers were pursuing Braun before the Aug. 1 non-waiver Trade Deadline.
Puig, whom the Dodgers recalled to the Majors on Friday, was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Aug. 2. He was in the Dodgers' starting lineup on Friday, batting fifth in right field. Later in the month, he was placed on revocable waivers, a procedural move clubs use with many players in August. If a player is claimed, as Puig reportedly was, his club has the option to pull him back, work out a trade with the claiming team or simply let him go.
Puig was batting .260/.320/.386 with seven home runs and 34 RBIs in 81 big league games this season entering Friday. The 25-year-old was a rookie sensation in 2013 and a National League All-Star the next year, but his performance has waned since.
While Puig is under contract for two more seasons at a little more than $17 million total, the Brewers owe Braun $76 million from 2017-20, plus a $15 million mutual option with a $4 million buyout for '21. The 32-year-old six-time All-Star entered Friday batting .312/.374/.544 with 24 homers, 74 RBIs and 14 steals this season.