Report: Dodgers offered Puig in potential Harper deal over the summer

Despite having a crowded core of outfielders already on their roster, the Los Angeles Dodgers pushed to acquire Bryce Harper from the Washington Nationals over the summer, offering Yasiel Puig in a possible deal, a source told Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times.

The Dodgers reportedly expressed interest in acquiring Harper both before the July 31 non-waiver deadline and again in August after claiming the 26-year-old star off waivers.

L.A. is now considered one of the top suitors to land Harper in free agency, per Bovada, despite not much changing in the team's depth chart.

After avoiding baseball's competitive-balance tax threshold for 2018, the Dodgers could be big spenders this offseason, and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has expressed confidence that the team is in a good spot to push for that elusive championship.

"It's not something we ever operate with a firm number," Friedman said. "And like I said last week, I feel really confident that we have all the resources we'll need to put us in position to win a World Series."

The tax threshold for 2019 is set at $206 million. Harper recently turned down a 10-year, $300-million extension from the Nationals, so any contract he does sign is expected to be massive.