MIAMI -- The trimming of the Marlins’ 40-man roster continues. On Thursday, the organization announced outfielder César Puello was outrighted to Triple-A New Orleans, but the 28-year-old has instead elected to become a free agent.

With Puello exploring other options, the Marlins’ 40-man roster is at 35.

Puello appeared in 32 games with the Marlins after being acquired from the Angels for cash on June 19. But on Aug. 5 he went on the 10-day injured list with a left hip flexor strain and missed the rest of the season.

Puello’s injury opened the door for the Marlins to call up rookie second baseman Isan Diaz from Triple-A, and the 23-year-old finished the season as the regular starter. Outfielder Lewis Brinson was also promoted from Triple-A that day as part of a series of moves.

In limited action with Miami, Puello had a slash line of .179/.281/.238 with a home run and six RBIs. His most memorable moment came on July 24 in a 2-0 win at the White Sox, when he blasted the decisive two-run homer.

Before joining the Marlins, Puello played in 12 games for the Angels, hitting .390 with three home runs and 12 RBIs in 50 plate appearances. A native of the Dominican Republic, Puello broke in with the Angels in 2017 and has appeared in 61 total MLB games with a career .239 batting average, four home runs and 21 RBIs.

The Marlins will be exploring outfield depth in the offseason, and they have several candidates close to being big-league ready, including prospects Jesús Sánchez and Monte Harrison. According to MLB Pipeline, the two rank as Miami’s Nos. 3 and 5 prospects, respectively.