Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig did not travel with the team to Denver after being told Monday he would be traded or demoted.
The 25-year-old outfielder was not dealt before Monday's non-waiver trade deadline, but the Dodgers did acquire outfielder Josh Reddick in a deal with the Oakland Athletics.
"I'm told he was not at the park," Puig's agent, Adam Katz, said. "The club informed me, and the player understood clearly that they were making every effort to trade him and that if they were unable to come to terms with another club on a trade -- and successful in acquiring another outfielder -- that he likely would be demoted. My understanding is that transaction will happen tomorrow."
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Puig's absence was a matter of his following instructions.
"[Puig] did what the organization asked him to do," Roberts told The Associated Press. "We didn't want him to come to the ballpark because we knew he wasn't going to Denver with us. We were looking for more production from that position, so we acquired a player [Reddick] who is having a really good year and great track record."
Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi, addressing the media about the team's trade deadline moves, repeatedly declined to comment on any questions related to Puig.
News of Puig's situation was first reported by FoxSports.com.
The Cuban outfielder made a huge splash when he first debuted with the Dodgers in 2013, but since then, his production has been in a steady decline. He is batting .260 with seven home runs and 34 RBIs in 81 games this season.
Los Angeles, which leads the National League wild-card race and is two games out of first in the NL West, opens a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
