JUST IN: Cincinnati Reds trade for Dodgers infielder Gavin Lux
The Cincinnati Reds are reportedly nearing a deal to acquire Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Gavin Lux, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. In exchange, Cincinnati is set to send outfielder Mike Sirota and their competitive balance Round A pick in the 2025 draft (immediately following the first round) to Los Angeles. Sirota, a third-round pick by the Reds in 2024 out of Northeastern, didn’t play after being drafted. Interestingly, he was also selected by the Dodgers in the 16th round of the 2021 draft but chose not to sign.
Lux, once considered one of baseball’s premier prospects, has had a solid but not standout MLB career. He has played over 100 games in three of the last four seasons, missing all of 2023 due to injury. In both 2022 and 2024, he was slightly above league average offensively, recording an OPS+ of 109 in 2022 and 101 in 2024.
His 2024 season was a tale of two halves. In the first half, Lux struggled with a .562 OPS and just 13 extra-base hits. However, he rebounded strongly in the second half, slashing .304/.391/.508 with 23 extra-base hits and improved plate discipline, although his strikeout rate also increased. As a left-handed hitter, Lux may not fully balance Cincinnati’s lineup but could benefit from the hitter-friendly environment at Great American Ball Park.
The Reds have flexibility in how they utilize Lux. While he has primarily played second base, he also has experience in the outfield, mainly in left field (39 games) with a few appearances in center and right field.
This versatility could open up different possibilities for Cincinnati. Lux could remain at second base, potentially shifting Matt McLain to another position such as third base or even center field, where McLain played during his freshman year at UCLA and briefly in the Arizona Fall League. Given the Reds’ depth at third base, they might opt to bolster their outfield offense by moving McLain to the outfield and utilizing Lux in the infield.