Brewers, Dodgers to re-visit Ryan Braun for Yasiel Puig blockbuster

The Brewers and Dodgers are expected to re-visit talks about a blockbuster that would send Ryan Braun to Los Angeles and Yasiel Puig to Milwaukee, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Nightengale reports that a move may in fact be “likely” to be completed over the winter.

According to Nightengale, the sides came close to a deal that would have sent Braun (and the $76 million remaining on his contract) to Los Angeles in exchange for Puig, righty Brandon McCarthy and prospects in advance of last month’s waiver trade deadline. The teams ran out of time before the 11:59 p.m. deadline on Aug. 31, with the deal being hung up on one prospect heading from Los Angeles to Milwaukee.

Both outfielders have been on the trading block for months. Milwaukee has looked to clear Braun’s salary after unloading veterans Yovani Gallardo, Carlos Gomez, Gerardo Parra, Francisco Rodriguez, Adam Lind, Jean Segura, Khris Davis and Jonathan Lucroy over the last two years. The Dodgers, reportedly tired of Puig’s clubhouse antics, demoted the 25-year old to Triple-A after failing to deal him before the non-waiver trade deadline on Aug. 1.

Despite a deal being close last month, it’s not a foregone conclusion that the sides will complete the trade before Opening Day. Puig was claimed off revocable trade waivers by the Brewers in July, meaning the Dodgers could only negotiate with Milwaukee without fully testing the entire market for Puig. Recent reports have suggested the White Sox and Orioles as potential destinations for Puig, while multiple teams (including the Red Sox) will have interest in making a deal for Braun over the winter.