Dodgers News: Yasiel Puig Shakes Off Slump, Trade Rumors

Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig was expected to have a breakout year by many this season. With Matt Kemp and Hanley Ramirez gone before the year, Puig was tabbed as the guy to step up and help the offense.

So far, 2015 has not been good to Puig, as he started off well before missing 40 games with a hamstring injury. Since returning from injury, he has gone through a bit of a slump. The 24-year-old is batting just .195 (16-for-82) in the month of July.

Coincidentally, Puig has been involved in trade rumors for almost the entire month as the Dodgers announced that Puig would be available if the right deal was in place.

Despite the rumors, which have been nothing more than rumors, Puig isn’t blaming his slump on any of that. Speaking with a translator, Puig said, “No it has nothing to do with any of the trade rumors, nothing like that. In baseball people go through slumps, that’s what was happening with me.”

“I came to the U.S. to play ball and that’s what I’m doing and doing the best that I can. If it comes to the point where the Dodgers decide to trade me then I’ll go to that respective team and do my best as well, it’s up to them.”

Overall, Puig is batting .254 with seven homers and 25 RBIs in 201 at-bats on the season. He had a good game Wednesday night in a 10-7 win against the Oakland Athletics, going 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs on his bobblehead night.

If Puig can get hot, he can be the spark that the offense needs to get rolling, leading to a division title and a deep run into the postseason.