The Cincinnati Reds acquired infielder Gavin Lux from the Los Angeles Dodgers for a draft pick and an outfield prospect, the organizations announced on Monday, adding another prime-age hitter to a squad hoping to advance in the National League Central this season.
Lux, 27, earned two World Series championships with the Dodgers and had flashes of the talent that once had him labeled as one of baseball’s top prospects. Lux became available for trade when the team moved Mookie Betts to shortstop last season and signed infielder Hyeseong Kim last week. The Dodgers acquired Cincinnati’s competitive balance Round A pick (worth approximately $2.5 million in bonus pool money) and outfielder Mike Sirota, a third-round pick in 2024.
Cincinnati already has a number of possibilities at Lux’s key positions, including shortstop Elly De La Cruz, second baseman Matt McLain, third baseman Noelvi Marte, corner infielder Jeimer Candelario, utility player Santiago Espinal, and first basemen Spencer Steer and Christian Encarnacion-Strand. Still, Lux’s athleticism (he has played 45 games in the outfield) may allow the Reds to shuffle him about in quest of at-bats.
After a poor start to 2024 due to an ACL tear that kept him out of the 2023 season, Lux was one of baseball’s most prolific hitters in the second half, batting.304/.390/.508 and posting two wins above replacement in 61 games. Lux is slated to earn little more than $3 million in arbitration this year and will enter free agency.
Following the 2026 season. Under new manager Terry Francona, the Reds attempt to recoup after a poor 77-85 season, which saw breakout seasons from De La Cruz and right-hander Hunter Greene but was insufficient in the National League Central Division.
The Dodgers will use the additional $2.5 million in draft capital to compensate for a depleted bonus pool. Because Los Angeles exceeded the luxury tax threshold by more than $40 million, its first-round draft pick, which was supposed to be 30th overall, was moved down 10 spots to 40th.
Sirota, 21, possesses athletic tools that have long piqued the interest of organizations, including the Dodgers, who selected him in the 16th round in 2021. He declined to sign and went to Northeastern. He demonstrated a power-speed-patience game, prompting Cincinnati to choose him with the 87th overall in last year’s draft and sign him for $863,300.
Leave a Reply