DENVER -- Yasiel Puig wasn't the only Dodger sent to the Minor Leagues on Tuesday.
In addition, the club demoted swingman Ross Stripling and newly acquired reliever Josh Fields. All three are likely to be assigned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday. General manager Farhan Zaidi said Puig is expected to report to Triple-A by the weekend.
The moves made room for the activation of right fielder Josh Reddick and swingman Jesse Chavez, the latter coming from Toronto for Mike Bolsinger.
Puig's demotion culminates two weeks of drama and intrigue, beginning with a reported tight hamstring, followed by more than a week of limited playing time and trade rumors. According to his agent, Puig was told that he would be traded Monday, and if he wasn't and the Dodgers acquired an outfielder, Puig would be demoted.
General manager Farhan Zaidi, an executive with Oakland before joining the Dodgers, clearly considers Reddick an upgrade over the current version of Puig.
"I have history with Josh, and soon my biases will become more glaringly apparent with former A's acquisitions," he said. "He's having a tremendous two-way season, having a great season, he's a Gold Glove-caliber right fielder and he's going right into the cleanup spot."
Reddick and starting pitcher Rich Hill were acquired Monday in the biggest of three trades the Dodgers made, with young pitchers Grant Holmes, Jharel Cotton and Frankie Montas going to Oakland.
"You don't trade the prospects we traded without having designs on the postseason and feeling we're capable of the postseason," said Zaidi. "Do I think we can contend for a World Series title? Absolutely. The moves we made are a reflection of that."
Hill was moved onto the Dodgers' 15-day disabled list with a left middle finger blister, but he is eligible to be activated. Hill is the 23rd Dodgers player on the DL, a National League record.
Puig, 25, hit .260 with seven home runs and 34 RBIs in 81 games.
Chavez becomes the new long man, a role that Stripling was forced into on Sunday, when he pitched 3 2/3 innings of relief after starter Bud Norris was injured two batters into the game.