The Dodgers and Reds have announced a trade sending Gavin Lux to Cincinnati for outfield prospect Mike Sirota and the Reds’ Competitive Balance Round A selection. The competitive balance pick — the only kind of draft choice that can be traded — lands at 37th overall next summer.
L.A. general manager Brandon Gomes had downplayed the possibility of trading Lux late last week, but it seems the Dodgers intend to play free agent pickup Hyeseong Kim at second base. Lux is going into his age-27 season. The left-handed hitting infielder was a first-round pick in 2016 and had emerged as one of the top prospects in baseball by the time he was promoted at the end of the ’19 season. Lux has been a solid big leaguer but not the kind of star that many evaluators had hoped.
The Dodgers didn’t give him consistent big league run until 2021. He struggled offensively that season, hitting .242/.328/.364 through 102 games. His bat took a step forward the following year, as he hit .276/.346/.399 through 471 trips to the plate. Lux looked like the starting shortstop going into 2023, but he tore his right ACL during Spring Training and wound up missing the entire season.
Lux returned from injury last year. He was healthy in Spring Training and expected to start at shortstop. A series of throwing errors during exhibition play called that into question. By the middle of Spring Training, Los Angeles announced that Lux would slide back to second base while Mookie Betts tried his hand at shortstop. Lux had started his professional career on the left side of the infield but encountered throwing accuracy issues in the minors as well.
The start of the season did not go well. Lux was the weakest link in the L.A. lineup in the first half. He carried a .213/.267/.295 batting line into the All-Star Break. The Dodgers stuck with him and were rewarded with a huge showing down the stretch. Lux hit .304/.391/.508 in 61 games during the second half. The end results were exactly league average. Lux finished the year with a .251/.320/.383 showing in 487 plate appearances. His 24 doubles and 10 home runs were both personal highs. Lux’s postseason numbers were unimpressive, though he did drive in the tying run in the eighth inning of what proved to be the decisive Game 5 victory in the World Series.
That will go down as Lux’s final at-bat in a Dodger uniform. He entered the offseason as the projected starter at second base. The Dodgers somewhat surprisingly signed Kim, who’s coming off a .326/.383/.458 showing in his final season in South Korea, to a three-year deal last week. That only guaranteed $12.5MM, a modest sum that aligned with most scouting reports that suggested Kim projected as a utility player in MLB. The Dodgers initially indicated they felt the same way, but it seems that was about not publicly telegraphing that they were shopping Lux.
Betts is expected to return to shortstop after finishing last season in the outfield. Kim looks like the starting second baseman with Miguel Rojas and Chris Taylor behind them in utility roles. Tommy Edman can play the middle infield but projects as the starting center fielder. It would have been difficult to carry each of Lux, Kim, Rojas and Taylor on the 26-man roster. The Dodgers could’ve opened a spot by designating Taylor for assignment, but they preferred to cash Lux in for future value. It’s a surprising decision for a team that hopes to repeat as World Series winners. The Dodgers apparently feel that the downgrade from Lux to Kim won’t be substantial.
The Reds may not have everyday at-bats to offer either. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale suggests Lux is likely to assume a utility role at Great American Ball Park. Cincinnati has Elly De La Cruz at shortstop and will welcome Matt McLain back at second base. Jeimer Candelario and Christian Encarnacion-Strand, each of whom is coming off a down year, project as the corner infield tandem. Lux has only started one major league game at third base, where his throwing accuracy could be problematic. He saw limited action in left and center field between 2021-22.
If Cincinnati feels Lux could handle third base, that’d be his clearest path to playing time. They could also use Lux at second base and slide McLain to the hot corner. It’s another infield acquisition for the Reds, whose seeming surplus has become a question mark over the past 12 months. They’ve traded away Jonathan India. Candelario and Encarnacion-Strand are rebound hopefuls. Noelvi Marte missed half the season after a failed performance-enhancing drug test and didn’t play well when he returned. McLain is coming back after losing all of 2024 to shoulder surgery. Among Cincinnati’s talented infield group, only De La Cruz took a step forward last season.
Lux has between four and five years of major league service. He’s under arbitration control for two seasons. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects him for a modest $2.7MM salary. The Yankees and Mariners were reportedly also in contact with the Dodgers regarding Lux. They’ll need to turn elsewhere to address their respective infields.
Sirota, 21, was Cincinnati’s third-round pick last summer. He’s a righty-hitting outfielder who hit .298/.473/.513 against mid-major competition during his draft year at Northeastern. Baseball America’s draft report praised his speed and potential for above-average defense in center field. Sirota’s 6’3″ frame offers some physical projection, but BA writes that his bat path plays more for low-angle contact than power.
The Reds didn’t get Sirota into any game action after the draft. He spent the final two months of the season at the team’s Arizona complex. The Dodgers’ amateur scouting department has had its eye on him for a while, though. Los Angeles drafted him in the 16th round out of high school in 2021. It was clear by that point that Sirota — whom BA had ranked among the top 200 prospects in that year’s class — was likely headed to Northeastern, but teams frequently take late-round fliers on talented high schoolers in case a deal with a higher draftee falls through and leaves unexpected space in the team’s bonus pool.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported the Reds were finalizing a deal for Lux. Fabian Ardaya of the Athletic confirmed a Lux trade was in place. KPRC 2’s Ari Alexander was first with Sirota and the Competitive Balance pick heading back to Los Angeles. Image courtesy of Imagn.
lol wut
So much for the Dodgers denial that the middle infield was changed!
I would take lux over Kim since lux has more experience and you know what you are getting from him
Does Lux make as much money as Kim?
no but Lux is headed for arbitration
Lux made 2.7M this year. Penny . And yeah, i take Lux over Kim any day.
LA also has Edman who is a gold glove 2B. Losing Lux could be a prelude to opening a roster spot for someone like Tanner Scott or Sasaki, et al.
It may not be Kim vs. Lux but instead Pages vs. Lux with Edman moving back to the IF. That’s the nice thing about having roster flexibility. It gives you options. Kim could still be the utility infielder in that scenario.
good point christo. but I think as it stands today, Edman is their best CF option
If they are thinking of bringing Edman in, then he should play short, and Betts 2nd. I thought Betts struggled a bit at SS, but looked very comfortable at 2nd last year and in ’23.
2.7 mill is Lux’s 2025 contract signed with Reds. In 2024 he made 1.255 mill with LAD.
spotrac.com/mlb/player/_/id/20127/gavin-lux
General managers are a lot like my old girlfriends.
They mean what they say in the moment, and then the moment passes.
You don’t think that the Dodgers told Kim he would get to start if he did well in Spring Training?
Brandon Gomes is so obvious.
I don’t get this move, Kim isn’t an MLB proven player, Lux is.
Kim’s glove & speed alone outrank Gavin’s. Any hitting Kim provides is a bonus. I like the deal.
People say that until he hits .180 then you want him dead.
Lol. Lux is like top 5 fastest players. Over 30ft/sec for sure.
Jury’s out. And I know is KBL, but he hit .306 over 7 seasons there. Last 3 seasons .318, .335, .326. Admittedly little power. Decent OPS.
27.7.
According to Baseball Savant. Gavin Lux is # 238
Lux had a whopping 7 SB’s as his season high 2 years ago. If he has speed, he makes little use of it on the bases and it hasn’t seemed to help his range at 2B. Kim will be a threat on base and light years better with the glove. Hitting is the only question, and it’s not like Lux was Mr Consistency.
I think this might be a sneaky good move for the Reds. One can only wonder what would have happened in LA if Lux didn’t tear his ACL. But he’s 2 years on from that now and a definite talent. Not that it matters but I like it. Even being a Chicago fan.
@bivouac. People are getting hung up on the power numbers, and who cares. He’s not a bad player to have in the bottom of the lineup. He’s a better defender than the other kim, and he was a two time gold glove in 4 years. His numbers have gotten better every year, and he’s 25. Lux is 27, and hasn’t really taken off.
@ Rex
I like the kid.
Bivouac. I know that’s why I said people. Getting rid of lux also makes sense because they need to start getting prospects when the payroll goes up.
@davidrocholl The Dodgers made a sensible trade, albeit of one of their few productive players under 30.
For two cheap years of Lux when money matters less to LAD than to any other team, they get a strong prospect who by accounts played a very good CF while putting up a college OPS over 1.000, plus they also get to pick 37th in the next draft.
Sirota might start pro ball as high as the Dodgers AA squad.
Hard to know if this deal was LAD’s first choice when they went after Kim, but it’s clear enough the idea all along was to spin Lux for fresh blood. Here without adding to payroll they take the small gamble of Kim vs Lux but effectively draft in the 2nd (comp bal pick) and 3rd (Sirota) rounds.
I hate this for the Reds.
Since when does a team that decided it was small market trade draft picks to get two years of a minimally competent MLB regular?
The thing I don’t get is that McClain is already their 2B now that he’s come back from last year’s injury. I guess they could move McClain to 3B or Lux to 1B. But this seems like they are going to have to move somebody else. Maybe one of their three 3B to the Yankees?
This is one move with more likely to come. Kike returning?
There now is a spot open on the roster but I suspect it’s gonna be a pitcher.
Whose name rhymes with Loki….
Ssshhh
Nori Aoki?
Or Hockey
Only allowed so many pitchers, so if Roki comes another pitcher goes.
Yeah, Dodgers have plenty of scrubs on the 40 man….
Also, half their pitchers are injured and can be shifted to the 60-day….
yeah but not until spring training
Well then, see ya later Henriquez or Casparius. Sad to see ya go….
there are 39 on the 40-man post-Lux.
You get wealthy buyiing stock before it goes up in value. If the Dodgers made this move, they are confident. They could have cut Taylor (what I had expected) or even Rojas. Dodgers not only spend big, they know what they are doing.
Dodgers wanted Elly and then backed off when they realized they will get him in a few years for competitive balance picks.
While I agree that Elly is going to end up as a Dodger, it’s going to take a “Soto-to-Padres” level package to get him.
Dodgers got fleeced…can’t say Im sad though LOL
More like they see something in Sirota considering they drafted him out of HS but he went to college instead & the Reds later drafted him.
Supposed to be a potential starting CF with 20 hr power.
So that guy been on their radar for years.
LOL nice spin
Dodgers got a glorified late first round pick in the ’25 draft plus a prospect they wanted. Not too shabby for a league average player….
@Degaz
“Fleeced”
Dodgers named the terms. They know what they’re getting (Dodgers drafted Sirota out of HS) and more importantly what they gave up. Lux hopefully has a bright future. But you don’t judge a deal like this the day its made.
Reds walked into the Dodgers used car lot this morning to ask about catcher Diego Cartaya. Walked out this afternoon with Gavin Lux, certain they got just what they came in for.
hahaha
What are the Reds doing? I feel like I say this often,
They may not be done yet. Let’s see the final roster before we get the pitchforks out.
Oh this will do wonders for the Reds
Mariners going to sign Robinson Cano
Been there, done that
He probably wants too much money……
Cano would be an improvement
Jeimer Candelario and some money to Mariners for low level prospect, maybe Jared Sundstrom?
Noelvi Marte and Edwin Arroyo for Luis Castillo?
Armament
I don’t think the Reds would take on that much money, and I think the Maroners want someone ready for Opening Day. But it is a fair deal, just both sides might want to flip their receipts.
@Top 100 I agree, just funny how that Mariners-Reds trade from a few years ago might work now in reverse for both teams.
Will have to overpay again.
Wth? Do they need him? He should’ve been a Mariner.
Yeah the M’s comp pick is higher than 37 iirc…. Don’t see why Seattle wouldn’t make the trade of recent draft pick and comp round A pick for Lux. Dipoto might not be employed by the time the ‘25 draft rolls around if the M’s aren’t in playoff contention.
Maybe Seattle made that offer but LaD liked the Reds offer better.
LA drafted Sirota in 2021 out of high school so they probably still like him.
I doubt sea made that offer. Kind of a steep price for lux imo. He also seems poor fit in Seattle
Can he play third base?
Better Jonathan India trade, dodgers lied about not trading him, should get decent capital here
Hah. If they don’t tell you what they are thinking, then they lied?
Shhh it’s what people in position of power do all the time….
Hah. A lot of fans, especially ones who read the site with “rumors” in the name, seem to believe that teams are obliged to disclose their inner thoughts, and if they fail to do so, then they “lied.” These people really need to unplug once in a while, at least until it dawns on them that this part of baseball is a poker game, and no good poker player turns over their cards until the call.
I think I had the Reds down as one of the last places Lux might end up lol. So is Kim in fact going to be the everyday 2B in LAD instead of super UTIL?
Guess so!
Him or Taylor. Or they could move Mookie back to 2B and play Rojas at SS. Or they could sign other Kim. In fact it doesn’t even matter that much. They’re so far beyond everyone else they could throw me out there.
They literally had to spend a billion dollars to catch up to the pack. They’re not ahead of anyone
@so called”Elite”
and how many world championships did your team win last year?
They did spend a billion dollars and it did put them ahead of the pack.
There you go, living in the past, again.
Is that a trick question? There’s only one championship awarded in a postseason.
Believe what they are getting at is this is great for the competitive balance of baseball? NYY, NYM, and LAD paid 84% of the luxury tax penalty last year? Not including Ohtani’s and everyone else’s “deferred money” to dodge the penalty while building a roster that certainly defys what the luxury tax is implemented for
Why else do they call em the “DODGERS” certainly have proven why. IRS would find them criminals
@Lionoflambs Comrade, all you’ve told us here is that you don’t know what deferred money involves, or what it means.
The following is so easy it almost answers itself:
What’s the difference in their LT number for each of the next 10 years between…
1) the Dodgers doing exactly what they did in practice with Ohtani, and…
2) the Dodgers signing Ohtani to a 10/460m contract that pays him 46m in each of the next 10 years?
LT? Left tackle? Maybe you’re right? I used to love baseball comrade, now I’m confused.
It’ll almost certainly be a platoon at SS with Kim playing vs. RHP and Rojas vs. LHP. Projected out, considering Lux has a 59 wRC+ vs. LHP and a 108 wRC+ vs. RHP, Lux was going to be in a platoon anyways. And he belongs in one.
Through the lens of trading the strong half of a MI platoon, who likely can’t hack it at SS or 3B, I think getting a guy they’ve been on for 4 years and a supplemental pick is damn near a stroke of genius.
@ mostly
I could see Mookie sliding over to 2B with Rojas taking lots of the SS innings, backed up by Edman (when not in CF) and Kim. Could be an interesting spring training.
Yeah it’s gotta be a Kim/Rojas platoon. Kim bats LH so presumably he’s a better fit against RHP, and Rojas doesn’t get the bat knocked out of his hand vs. LHP.. It’s what they first acquired Rojas for.
And Lux has a 59 wRC+ vs. LHP for his career, so in reality they were dealing with a platoon 2B that probably can’t even fill in credibly at SS or 3B.
Feels like an upgrade to me.
Good fit with reds. Best of luck to you Lux.
How so?
How is it a good fit? They have McLain for second, Elly at short, Candelario/Marte at third, CES at first. Even without India, where does Lux fit?
Marte, Candelario and Strand are far from reliable everyday options.
Neither is Lux. Lol
again how does lux help that exactly? move him to the of? mcclain back to third and try everyone else at first?
Well he doesn’t need to be reliable in Cincy. 6 guys for 4 spots see who’s playing well and who is healthy.
LOL, yeah, this is one of the weirdest trades of the offseason. At least, ‘maybe’ the Dodgers got something? But the Reds need Lux like they need a headache.
watch Reds flip Lux to Seattle or the Bronx
Or to the White Sox in a package to land Luis Robert Jr.
I think the Chisox will only want prospects and Lux is established.
Candelario nor Marte should be starting at 3B. They improve their club by getting Lux to play 2B and moving Matt McLain to 3B. That puts Candelario and Marte on the bench where they belong.
Wish Lux the best
Marte may begin 25 at Louisville
He’s India’s replacement. Dude will rake at Great American Launching Pad….
Correct
He’s kinda an India replacement. He’s insurance if the combo of Candelario, CES, and Marte struggle again. If one or two do, than Lux could play 2b and free up space for Candy to play 1st or McLain/Steer to play 3B, if they all are doing great, he’s the Reds new left fielder.
FG depth chart has McClain playing 2B and Lux playing 3B. Is McClain really a middle of the field defender?
Lux has never played 3b and I wouldn’t trust his arm for long throws to 1b
McLain is fantastic with the glove
Don’t watch much baseball?
@Big Red Machine If the Reds dealt away 2nd and 3rd round draft picks for “insurance,” this deal is even worse for them than I thought.
@Reynaldo’s He’s more a middle of the field defender than Lux is a 3Bman.
Definitely above average, according to Statcast, and with a sprinter’s speed.
Lux is a platoon player. He has a 59 wRC+ vs. LHP for his career. And watching him bat vs. lefties, you often wonder how he’s even managed that.
108 wRC+ vs. RHP though, so if they can limit his exposure, he can be a useful piece. Just a lot less useful if struggles elsewhere on the roster force him into everyday duty again.
McClain is likely headed to the OF.
McLain probably gonna play OF
Marte probably needs some solid time in triple-a, CES as well so no telling what the infield will look like
The Reds now have 4 guys for 3 positions. So? Like Depth Charts matter. Like 3 guys are going to start and play all of 162 games.
Has anyone here watched Francona manage?
Tito will start those that are better choices at the positions on game day. Depending on who’s hot, cold, slightly injured, matchup with the opposing starting pitcher, etc. He’ll also bring in and sit down players during the game for tactical reasons.
None of those guys 4 players are going into the HOF. Tito uses his whole roster. He’s working with the FO to have 13 quality position players, most of whom can play multiple positions.
MLB is not rotisserie league. Tito – and most managers – don’t select players before the game and play them all
game long.
Gads – does anyone posting here actually watch any baseball games? Maybe look at some box scores?
Reds are smartly amassing players who can play multiple positions. Maybe biggest reason India departed was he only played 2B and was below average at that.
I had him going to Seattle, but it seems the Reds were willing to step up and get a deal done. M’s don’t have much of an appetite to make any kind of deal these days. The return should be interesting from CIN.
Basically a top of the 2nd round draft pick….
F Dipoto and the Mariners ownership for being 100% losers!
Overplayed their hand and gonna have nothing to show for it.
Just like last year.
There is plenty of time my brothers
I’ll look you up February 15th. Lol
Please do. If I disappeared it probably means the Mariners did nothing and I decided to take a long walk off a short pier into Puget Sound.
Well there ya go…hahaha
I’m utterly baffled, what? This was not on my radar at all.
And that means what exactly?
Hmmm, I see the Yankees will not be putting on the Lux
@Mike
I’d rather give Oswaldo a shot. Lux isn’t enough of an improvement to give up a real prospect.
@Knicks – Agreed. This is probably why teams aren’t allowed to trade picks. 37th overall pick for two years of an average Lux…plus another prospect.
I’m guessing McLain ain’t ready to play or he’s getting traded…
Fat chance traded.
It would just figure they would trade India and wish they had him later, so had to go get someone else.
They probably dealt another relief pitcher for him. They love doing that.
McLain may be going to CF as the Reds worked him there in the AFL
Or does McLain become the RFr that they have been looking for? I’d keep Friedl in center.
McLain was a CF in college.
Yes, but Friedl is a quality CFr in MLB. Why move both Friedl and McLain?
He was mostly a SS in college, but did play some CF.
For a few games , but that was mostly for
Him to get some at bats, coming off his injury. McLain will likely play 3B now.
And where McLain hit as you’d expect.
You know what depth is? Flexibility to your bench. That’s what they have here. Or are only big market teams allowed to have that.
@Coys Bacon Again, if the Reds dealt away 2nd and 3rd round picks this so they’d have a more flexible bench, they’re idjits.
They have been hoarding their prospects for 3 years now. These were not their top prospects that they traded. We reds fans have been waiting for them to trade off Connor Phillips during last off season to get more hitting. Now he is no longer a top prospect. They have enough Top 10 prospects to survive this trade.
Definitely not on my Gavin Lux destination bingo card!
Die, where did you get your Gavin Lux bingo card?
I can’t wait to see the return
This dooms the Yanquis to irrelevancy.
Arraez “might be” available, will listen to offers. Hurry up with the best offer otherwise Seattle might steal him.
😉
Seattle has no interest in him. Too expensive, and they can find a cheaper 1B who can hit.
Maybe if Seattle wakes up..
Lol Mariners…….
Good thing the PNW offers a lot to do other than going to baseball games in the summer.
Can Lux play 3B? Or maybe Cincy plans to use him in the OF?
In either case, he isn’t what they need there.
This one- This trade makes the FA signing of Candelario look even worse. Now he has a Bellinger like deal that’s going to be hard to move unless they eat some and we all know how that’s going to go over with Management. Hoyer got lucky and got rid of most of HIS bad deal. Who’s going to want Candelario?
Candelario will be the starting 3Bman going forward. JC was not healthy last year and they had to shut him down mid August.
In answer to your question, the Reds want Candelario.
The real question then would be why? His numbers are cratering and they weren’t spectacular to begin with.
Candelario’s OPS+ numbers over the last 5 years ending with 2024:
137/121/81/121/90
He had knee problems and a broken toe last year. After a slow start he had his OPS over .800 in late June before fading with injuries and getting shut down for good in mid August.
If you want a real example of numbers cratering take a look at the back of Nick Madrigal’s baseball card …
Lux is strictly 2b he’s pretty bad at ss and lf from his brief time there
You don’t want Lux in the OF. He’s primary a 2nd baseman. Perhaps he can go back to his natural position at SS in an emergency. He’s never played 3rd.
He’s presently a one position player which is likely why the Dodgers traded him because he can’ be versatile with them since there are so many better options on the roster.
Again they collect infielders instead of getting what they need
Tito is probably regretting his decision by now.
Stop pretending you know what Francona is thinking. He may have been behind it for all we know.
You know as soon as the Reds make any move he’s here to tell everyone why it sucks.
They just got a replacement for India to help with depth. At worst. But since the Reds suck. It’s impossible to believe that they would actually get depth. Only big markets do that.
I believe Francona is behind all these moves. Putting a roster in place he wants with the limitations the reds offer
Never take Gomes seriously
Lux is gonna kill it in Cincy
Yeah he will! What a move for reds
Well, so much for not trading him.
Makes me think another trade is planned by the Reds or Matt McLain got injured somehow and we don’t know it yet… or maybe they’re going to try and play Lux in the OF??
Or maybe McLain goes to CF
That’s exactly it. And by that measure greatly improves the roster.
TJ Friedl is the Reds’ CF and arguably their most productive OF. Assuming McLain is healthy he and Lux can handle middle IF, with Elly De La Cruz and his cannon arm moving back to 3B. CES and Candelario sharing DH/1B. Noelvi Marte optioned to AAA.
More likely McLain in the OF.
Mookie to 2B
HS Kim signing soon?
Please just say Ha-Seong and not HS, we already have an HS Kim LOL
You literally just signed a 2b.
We signed a Swiss Army knife who will probably start the season in AAA. I suspect Mookie will be the 2B, he is not a SS.
NorCal
There is almost zero chance Hye-Seong Kim will start in AAA.
Persoanly, I like (not what I expect):
Outfield of Betts in right, Teo in left and Edman in center.
Infield of Freeman, Kim, Rojas and Muncy.
Conforto is 4th outfielder, Alex Freeland replaces Rojas by mid-season. Otherwise, can move Edman to SS and put Pages in CF if his bat improves.
They not paying Conforto $17 mil to platoon….
I agree, not what they will do. I still think it is their best play.
He’ll be on the strong side of a platoon for sure.
Of course they are. Conforto’s their platoon OFer du jour against RHP’ing.
Nothing wrong with it, and Conforto should never, ever face a LHer.
The Reds moves make no sense. Need an outfielder (especially RH), so get a left-handed middle infielder who can only really play 2B due to the yips. McLain and Elly ain’t going anywhere and they have Marte too so what is the point?
Marte is not a lock to be a starter. My guess is McClain plays short and elly moves to third with lux at second
That is what should happen, but it remains to be seen if it does happen.
@losrojos yes I know he isn’t a lock, but if he hits well in AAA at some point he’s going to be pushing his way on the roster
We would all welcome that “problem”, but almost always someone will slump or become injured and sort it out.
@octavian8 Except the Reds can’t be in the position of shrugging and saying “well, almost always someone will slump or become injured and sort it out,” particularly with young players.
They need an intelligent plan involving concrete bets on the young players they think can best grab them a wild card slot before their next slide into 5-year irrelevancy.
he’s getting flipped to the Angels for Ward
I thought about that too. But I was also reading McLain played some CF in the Arizona Fall League recently and he played there in college I think. Maybe the plan is Lux at 2B and McLain in CF
Mclain would be an extreme overpay for a slightly above average OF
Sorry I was thinking flipping Lux to the Angels for Ward, not McLain. Agreed that would be bad to trade McLain for Ward.
for Jo Adell*
Yeah that’s not happening either lmao
That would be fine with this reds fan
McClain played OF, has also been getting reps there, actually makes a lot of sense for a team that’s missed out on almost every OF worth paying for, not that they would have..
McClain has the arm to play SS, RF makes sense. Keep Freidl in CF. Steer, CES, Fraley, Fairchild, Benson fight for roster spots. Espinol is your back up IF
I agree that McLain makes sense in RF.
LF: Steer/Fraley
CF: Freidl
RF: McLain
1B: CES
Fairchild, Benson, and Bowman fight it out for the 5th OFr spot.
Steer fighting for a roster spot?!? lol
Spencer Steer is the second best offensive player on the team. The Reds need to figure out where he’s going to play, and pencil him in 150 times next year.
1B? LF? 3B? Wherever. Just stop treating him like a utility guy.
If steer is your 2nd best offensive player, book those 78 wins now.
They’ll get an OF who can mash. Things things are not mutually exclusive.
It’s called Depth. Even small market teams can be allowed to have it too.
They didn’t trade anything that was going to help in the next 2-4 years for it either.
Nice pickup for the Reds. Lux has put up 6.4 bWAR in his three full seasons (2021, 2022 and 2024) and the second half of 2024 was really good. He’s also very affordable with a probable arb salary of $3 million or so in 2025.
The only question is where they’re gonna play him. Cincy now has a bunch of infielders and only so many slots for them.
Lux was the steal. He had a slow start in 2024 because he was recovering from a brutal leg injury. The second half he was fine. Actually, he was more than fine. Really surprised about this transaction.
Love it as a Reds fan.. I think Lux is going to work out in Cincinnati. I’m wondering who they had to part with to get him.
I’m sure most of my fellow Reds fans will complain because he is an infielder. Maybe Lux plays 2B and McLain gets moved to 3B. Matt McLain was a SS at UCLA so I think he could play 3B. I think it’s quite possible.
Reading is hard.. didn’t see they said in the write up it was Sirota and competitive balance pick. I love it.. most guys they draft are three or four years away from making the big club if they ever even get there so flipping the pick and a prospect for a proven Major leaguer is a no brainer.
@Joe it wasn’t in the writeup when this comment posted. Or maybe you’re aware of that and just wanted to be a.
If you look, I was replying to my own comment so the only person I was being rude to was myself.
You look like the Richard, FYI
@Joe It All It was indeed a “no brainer.”
Elly will be at third is my guess
Honestly, I think Elly I better suited in the OF or at the least, 3B.
Elly is a plus defender at SS. Why would you take him from the most difficult defensive position and move him to the OF, where his glove is less valuable?
He presently makes far too many errors to play SS. Plus, his size is going to catch up with him and make him too slow for SS. 3B or the OF are his best two bets. McClain is a better SS right now, plus they have Arroyo not far away..
Errors is not a determining factor to base how good he is at SS. The balls he gets to. The plays he makes with his range. The guy is not moving off SS this year either way.
The only thing I can say to that is watch the games. He made a lot of little league errors in the beginning of the season. That game against the Mets comes to mind. He did seem to get better later in the season though.
Elly PROJECTS to one day be a plus defender at SS.
Right now, he’s a butcher at SS, who makes some amazing plays to go along with WAY too many errors.
Barry Larkin made 29 errors his first full year at SS.
I think Ozzie Smith led league in errors his 2nd full year.
Cruz makes careless errors on easy plays. He might outgrow the position. He sure as hell not coming off it this year at least.
Cheap seats, you PROJECT to one day be a plus poster.
Right now, you’re a butcher at it.
Congrats on the worst take I’ve heard in a LONG time. EDLC is already a plus defender at the ripe old age of 22. The Reds would be foolish to have him play anywhere else than SS.
No one knows but edlc gonna get this year to sure up his defense agree
I don’t know either but I love watching Elly play. Sure he makes mistakes both running and fielding but he’s like this big (very fast) kid that just loves to play. I get the feeling if they put him in RF and a ball is hit to LF, he’ll be like “I got it!!”
@Alan Horn Errors? Let’s get a grip, people. It’s not 1950.
Ozzie Smith, probably the greatest SS in MLB history, was routinely among the league leaders in errors. Once you know why errors don’t matter you’ll have taken a nice step forward in your baseball education.
Elly’s already a plus defender at SS.
Top 10th percentile by arm strength, top 2nd percentile in OAA, 11 runs better than an average SS.
You know we keep track of every play now?
@Coys Bacon SACRILEGE!!
Ozzie never led the league in errors, though it was a close thing several times.
Errors qua errors simply DO NOT MATTER. Elly made 29 errors in no small part because he gets to so many balls. Easily one of the top SS’s in the league by range, by OAA, by Fielding Runs, and by arm strength.
He doesn’t have to improve to win multiple Gold Gloves.
Bregman to the Dodgers
Lol
No Arenado.
Exactly. No Arenado and no Bregman.
Reds flipping Lux?
A flip is always possible but maybe the Reds figure their infield depth isn’t as deep as it looks. There are a bunch of injury and performance issues around Marte, Candelario, Encarnacion-Strand and McLain. Lux had his own bad injury that wiped out 2023, though he really looked to be getting back into form in the second half of 2024.
They might go with Lux at second and some combination of De La Cruz and McLain on the left side of the infield. First base could be a timeshare with Candelario and Encarnacion-Strand. Marte is around for depth and PED tests. See how it works for the first couple months of the season and go from there.
Now they’ve got to fix the outfield, though.
LOL! PED tests. Not being sarcastic, that was funny.
The Reds are going to try to flip Lux back to the Dodgers for, say, a 2nd and a 3rd round draft pick.
The Dodgers will reject it out of hand.
Be nice to see em flip Marte Stewart calandario and a 4th piece for Luis Robert
Very weird
The M’s fans being upset about missing on Lux are delusional. You didn’t miss out on Brett Boone. This guy is average as average can be. I get the anxiousness about the slow off-season but you don’t have to melt down every time someone goes to another club besides yours, very SD Padre fan of you.
The Mariners are just a bunch of flat out cheap ass LOSERS…
Bret Boone is exactly average.
After he hit the steroids, he was pretty good
Average is miles better than the M’s have gotten from second base since whenever the last good Robbie Cano season was (2017?)
Bret Boone was average, before he joined the Mariners and probably started doing ‘roids.
Spooky, the M’s currently don’t even have an average 2B or 3B. Average would be a massive improvement.
Didn’t the Reds just trade Jonathan ?
So far they’ve swapped out Jonathan India plus their Rule 5 pickup and their Comp B pick, for Gavin Lux and Brady Singer.
I love it.
Who did LAD get for Lux?
_________________
Ooh, my little pretty one, pretty one
When you gonna give me some time, Sirota?
Ooh, you make my motor run, my motor run
Gun it coming off of the line, Sirota
Never gonna stop, give it up, such a dirty mind
I always get it up for the touch of the younger kind
My, my, my, I, yi, woo!
M-m-m-Mike Sirota
Come a little closer, huh, ah, will ya, huh?
Close enough to look in my eyes, Sirota
Keeping it a mystery gets to me
Running down the length of my thighs, Sirota
Never gonna stop, give it up, such a dirty mind
I always get it up for the touch of the younger kind
My, my, my, I, yi, woo!
M-m-m-Mike Sirota
M-m-m-Mike Sirota
You seem to have a KNACK for writing song lyrics.
Nice job Landon that Knack reference.
Puns twice removed are always welcome.
Lol
Huh???
McLain moves to CF
An Anthony Volpe/Gavin Lux middle infield tandem could have been an extremely effective pairing both on defense and offense in the Bronx for years. It’s best the Dodgers didn’t make their WS rivals stronger.
Yankees always lowball their offers
For that price the Pirates made a misstep here.
Price was expensive and Pirates have 2 better 2b.
Lux can play SS and some of the field as well as 2B. I think there is a place for him to play there over IKF. Sirota isn’t entirely valuable IMO, the comp A pick sure there is something there I suppose but the Pirates have plenty of what-ifs or maybe-will type players in the system right now it would be an easy move for me to ship a comp A pick out for a 2-2.5 WAR middle infielder.
I like seeing what Gonzo/Yorke can do at 2B, but I think having Lux would have been a nice addition where IKF and Triolo come off the bench for defensive subs or injury issues.
If he could play ss they would have kept him or got much much more of a return. He’s a 2b. And not a needle mover. I’d rather go bat Horowitz or all around Gonzales. TJ may be ready in 2026. Yorke Triolo IKF. Endy if bat plays can be there. Peguero glove is ss playable now but can be a option. Lux is just a guy and not worth 2 nice prospects when you already have guys.
Come on Reds. Deal Sal Stewart now to headline a trade for Luis Robert. Makes sense for both.
So he can play 5 games and Stewart can become an All Star? Sounds like a Paul Konerko trade all over again.
Hoarding prospects is MUCH better
Trading elite prospects for players that don’t pan out doesn’t get you anywhere either.
Where are the no-risk inexpensive talented OFs that teams will trade for no one decent in return?
The FA market for CF is really bad this year and next.
The Reds supposedly have plenty of IF talent on the roster, Arroyo coming off labrum surgery they are still high on, etc.
Sal Stewart is not Paul Konerko and hes not elite. Reds should jump all over that if they take calendario and then reds throw in a couple more prospects
wow maybe they will actually roll with kim as a starter
Comp A round alone for Lux would have been a good deal. Friedman is the goat for a reason
I wonder if this opens the door to bring Kiki Hernandez back, with a spot opening on the presumptive roster.
I’d say that is highly likely. I wouldn’t be surprised if, like Kershaw, they already have a handshake deal in place and are just waiting until they can add guys back to the 60-day IL to clear up 40-man roster spots.
Not better than Steer, Friedl, Farley or McClain. Benson, maybe. Fairchild, push.
Another guaranteed offensive improvement……For the Dodgers. Why play in GABP, when you aren’t even trying for realistic offensive improvement? Front office raises for all!
I’m not surprised the Dodgers wanted Sirota, they drafted him in HS & he decided to go to college instead and the Reds drafted him, supposed to be a potential center fielder, as for the Reds they replace India I guess??
Reds will field an entire team of .230-.245 hitting, 15 HR infielders and can’t figure out why they can’t contend.
Maybe the Reds aren’t finished with the off season yet. Relax.
The time to relax has passed. Keep getting average to below average players and calling them big acquisitions is how you stay mediocre.
Reds are the Jays of the NL.
Minus the $200,000,000 payroll. A
Except broke
Right. Cruz is going to do that. Sure makes sense.
Here comes Arenado with Muncy moving to 2B?
Muncy is fat and cannot move laterally anymore.
I know, that’s why I want Arenado at 3b. Send Taylor, Andy Pages, and a top 10 prospect outside of Rushing for Ryan Helsely and NA, with maybe another top 15 prospect or cash, to work down what NA is owed. Muncy can’t be that much worse than Teo in LF, can he? lol. And no, I’m not really being serious. I’ve just always liked NA, and know he’s always wanted to be a Dodger, and that the Dodgers have always liked NA.
Muncy is clearly not suited for 2B with the shift ban, and him on the outfield would be a disaster. No thanks on Arenado in LA.
Lol no
Blue Jays – learn from this. Look how quickly this occurred. Make some moves. Not the one on the toilet unless you’re flushing Atkins down it.
Yeah, I don’t know how Seattle could have topped that return.
Mariner fans will have to give them a pass on this one.
M’s have a higher comp pick than #37 iirc so I think they could have beat the Reds offer unless Mike Siroka really matters to LAD.
In all seriousness, he doesn’t profile well at T-Mobile. He was never on my list of targets for Seattle.
But it’s pretty amazing that it’s 7 January and Seattle hasn’t filled a single active roster need.
@stevil neither have the reds lol, unless you count the qo to Martinez
The Reds got Brady Singer. That counts.
5 weeks to spring training…tick tock tick tock
Did you apply to join the MLBTR team?
I did not…
Must be nice to sign everyone and trade your excess for for more value!
Penny-pinching Dodgers ditching a productive player because they are too cheap to pay arbitration salaries.
Hahaha good one
Channeling my inner towinagain. (who is for-real my favorite poster here)
His rage and frustration is pure entertainment. Hard to be surpassed.
Such a kidder, high.
Can’t defer arbitration
Since when can teams trade draft picks? Oh wait it’s the Dodgers. They have a billion dollar payroll where 3 quarters of it won’t be paid for 10 years.
If you are just finding out that competitive balance picks can be traded, you’re a bit behind.
I knew there was talks about it for future CBA’s. I guess I wasn’t aware of it because it’s so extremely rare. It’s as rare as a player hitting 4 homeruns in one game. Maybe more rare than that.
Competitive balance picks can be traded. Dodgers FO is like a law firm. Working the loopholes….
Last time Reds traded a CBA pick was in the Sonny Gray deal. Yankees picked Sikkema with that draft pick. BTW Reds drafted Sikkema last year in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. He pitched for their AA Chatanooga team last year. A bird in the hand??
In my mind this suggests Arenado to third, Muncey moves to second. However I still question the Betts move to SS.
Beautiful mind
Did Brandon Gomes think that he was fooling anyone?
I like the move for Lux. He had some bad luck health wise but is a strong bounce back candidate especially there. I think there is just too much pressure to immediately produce with the Dodgers roster. Being on a team with a bit longer of a runway where you aren’t afraid to get swapped out right away will probably feel good for him.
Good luck Reds! Let’s go Dodgers!
Lux’s line outs will now go halfway up the bleachers in Cincy’s bandbox….
He’s only controllable for two years and you traded away 12 years of potential. For a guy who can only play the same position as your returning Rookie of the Year stud.
What a bizarre trade from the Reds PoV. Sirota slipped to 3rd round but was thought of as a first rounder most of the year. AND a comp pick? Wow.
Yeah like trading two recent second round picks (at the time) for Benson. That worked out well, didn’t it?
Look up the two second rounders the Reds traded to Cleveland for Benson. Boyd has done nothing two years of A ball and at the rate he is going will wash out of baseball before even reaching the upper minor leagues and Hajjar isn’t setting the world on fire either. Just because they give up second rounders don’t mean they had any value.
You like to complain about everything though so there is no reason we should expect anything different this time.
You are another altar worshipper, we get it. Most of us know better.
No one is worshipping anything. You’re just being a tool. Again. When facts are presented to you.
Complain whatever they do. Complaining about a trade that even with Benson regressing badly. They haven’t traded anything of value to get him.
What value are those 2 players they traded providing Cleveland?
Somewhere there’s a village missing an idiot.
Go back under your bridge and wait for the next transaction This one. We can all assume you won’t like that one either.
Yeah the reds got hosed but it is LA, why wouldnt they get whatever they want
So they didn’t want Elly?
They can sign him in a few years when he goes bright lights, big city.
So, my question is… Why?
LA traded expendable excess for nice prospect and draft pick that can get another. Too good to turn down. Reds because they are the reds.
Dodgers just keep getting gold for their overhyped prospects once they show that they’re not a star
his injury changed his trajectory but the last half he was really solid for the Dodgers. has to have one full season of health which by most accounts he’ll somehow get w the Reds. don’t know much about Shirota but I think you’re going to really like Gavin. plus glove and quiet dude. fully expect him to roll in Cincy. that overhyped Busch guy worked out pretty nicely for the Cubs. Lux isn’t a failed prospect.
@wren @dt
Why do ppl seem to think that teams “trick” GMs, and their scouts, by “tricking” them to buy into the hype they allegedly project? I would die my GM if he was influenced by anything other than our own internal prospect evaluation data.
Last year Lux would have had the 3rd highest WAR amongst Reds position players only behind Elly & Stephenson…
So yes it was a good trade…
Well there’s an instant answer to the Yanks interest lol. Good, now go get Arraez!
Yankees would possibly send Stroman to the Padres for Arraez, some money would need to be worked out, I can see it being beneficial for both teams. Stroman would do better in pitcher-friendly Petco Park, Yankees get their leadoff hitter and serviceable 2B.
100%
The only way that happens is Yankees send cash to cover his entire contract except the league minimum. Send Schmidt instead.
This seems like a part of a bigger deal. I’m guessing cincy trades an infielder in 3…2…1
McLain to the OF, Lux to man 2B. This move explains the Reds previous interest in middle infielders – they must have already talked to McLain about moving to the OF. The question now becomes CF or RF?
Friedl is fine in cf
Friedl and is 0;2 fWAR is fine. Sure
He wasn’t so bad in 23
He also wasn’t that highly regarded as a prospect. Still may pan out though. He was hurt most of last season
Friedl was hurt in 2024 and only played in 85 games.
In 2023 Friedl got MVP votes.
Friedl is not fine, he’s much much more than just fine.
Scraps falling from the table…
Decent get for Cincy though. Lux could be one of those change-of-scenery guys.
Reds had an infield crunch, traded India, now seem to have an infield crunch again.
I like Lux as a player but wonder if this sets up yet another trade for Cincy.
Agreed. I could easily see one of the other Cincy infielders going to Seattle/Washington/NYY
Except none of those teams I have the of bay the reds need
So basically a first round pick and our third round pick last year for a guy that isn’t even a top three hitter in our lineup? Look I’m all for trading prospects to get players! In fact empty the damn minors out and get us some damn players! But this trade makes no sense, he is a middling bat and an ok 2nd baseman at best. Which by the way we don’t need, and as far as moving him position we just tried that with a guy in Mike moustakas. I understand you have to give up talent to get talent. But for frick sake can we please get a guy that’s as good a bat and fielder as lux but for a position we need? At least then it gives us another plt bat for the outfield
Based on last years statistics he would actually be a top 3 hitter in our lineup in multiple metrics …. Plus he still has plenty of upside as the former #2 overall prospect in baseball who lost a year to injury (2023) and is still a relatively young player…. I mean the 2nd half of last season he was statistically a top 20 hitter in baseball…. I’m all for gambling on the the former #2 prospect who may just be hitting his stride…
Price was steep but not too steep for 2 seasons of this guy imo. Trammel comes to mind with that 30 something pick. A lot of flash that rarely pans out
Everything you just said is wrong.
That was directed at redslover.
So Arraez to NYY announced tonight, right?
Arraez is bat only, and that bat has no pop in it. I’d be surprised if the Yankees went that route.
Reds get better and the Pirates do nothing.
Want Arraez? Suarez?
Pirates do need arraez !
Send IKF, Endy and Ashcraft back.
Pirates need a outfielder and lefty reliever. They got plenty of 2b
Somewhat interesting note, this will be the Dodgers highest draft pick in 2025.
Their first round pick was docked 10 spots back to #40.
The yankees interested on lux article from 5 hours ago didnt age well..lol
Prob got the dodgers a better return
Lux never lived up to the hype but maybe a change of scenery will help.
Just what the Reds need, another young infielder
Seems the Dodgers are really high on this kid. They drafted him in 2021 in the 16th round, weren’t able to sign him, drafted by the Reds in the 3rd round in 2024, and they traded Lux for him.
First really dumb move by the Dodgers in a long time. Unbelievable.
you might be the only person in the world holding that opinion.
May want to delete.
Nah, I’ll keep it. Trading Lux is a mistake, IMO.
Was Sirota traded in the 2022 cape cod league? Lol
If Bob Nightengale says Lux will be a utility guy, that seals the deal. Lux will start every day at 2B. McLain goes to the left side of the infield or to the outfield.
Okay, even the wonderful Bob can be right once in a (long) while. But if Lux has a spring anything like his second half of 2024, he ain’t gonna be a utility guy, super or otherwise. He’ll start every day. The only question is where.
He doesn’t have the arm for 3B. McLain does.
Let’s go! I love this. Reds are quietly having a good offseason. Need to add a big OF bat to make it complete.
Why not another former top prospect in profar ?
How do you know a member of the Dodgers FO is lying? Their lips moved. 100% of us that are not Dodgers fans knew this was coming the moment they signed Kim.
I’m guessing that they failed to run their plans past you first.
I’m guessing that you can’t recognize lies when you hear/read them.
Suspicion confirmed.
I’m cool with the Mariners passing on this acquisition at this price.
If I’m any team in the league there’s no way I help the Dodgers by taking Lux off their hands for prospects. Make them deal with their limited roster situation and when they have to DFA at least 1-3 players to make room for all their signings, then you swoop in for a waiver claim.
Kim has minor league options. Dodgers were in no bind. And with Cartaya…some team will step up with a body for him if only to jump the pecking order in the waiver line. But thanks for your good thoughts.
You think they’ll stash a player signed from Asia in the minors??
They are trying to crack the Korean market so they aren’t gonna send him to the minors unless he is really really awful.
They were in a bind trust me. Plus they’ll have to open a slot for Sasaki if they get him. They don’t have enough positions to play everyone.
point is, you don’t just get to “swoop in” for a waiver claim. Teams at the bottom of the pecking order will always jockey for a deal.
Yeah of course. The Reds are near the bottom though so I’d take my chances. I don’t value Lux as much as Dodgers fans do, so I’d be perfectly fine to let him go to a different team.
Lux still has potential but this Dodger fan is happy with Kim. What the Reds are gonna do with Lux is hard to fathom. I think they might flip him elsewhere.
If the Reds flip him to a third team, that would make a lot more sense from their end. But we really haven’t seen a lot of three team trades recently. Might be hard to get everyone on the same page, especially with half the teams refusing to spend (money or prospects) on anything or anyone.
Contrary to popular belief, the Dodgers 40-man isn’t an all-star team. Plenty of expendables.
Lux wasn’t anywhere near getting dfa’d. They just got the offer they wanted….
depends on his spring and the Dodgers already cracked the Korean market long long time ago. I can still remember when we chanted for Chan Ho.
Hee-Sop-Choi! Hee-Sop-Choi!
He was good, for about a month.
Lux has been a 3-4 win player every full year he’s been healthy. The way people talk about him is hilarious. It’s just bad luck he had a freak injury and he’s the weak link on a super team.
what is funny is how many fans on both sides of this deal don’t like it. to me that means it must be a good deal for both teams.
Yeah, Lux’s probably the Reds 3rd best hitter and the Dodgers get a one position player off the roster to make it more flexible. Wouldn’t surprise me if Lux is an All-Star in that park. We’ve seen him be great for a half a season before.
I’m not a fan of either team, but Dodgers fans are just emotional about the issue. To me, Lux is super expendable and replaceable. I’d be more angry if I’m a Reds fan. Unless they flip him elsewhere. Tbh, I’d love to get Taylor Walls off the Rays roster and would take Lux in a heartbeat. I just wouldn’t want to give the Dodgers any prospects for him.
meanie
Why would a Reds fan. Like myself. Be angry at the Reds for adding more depth to their roster. More flexibility to the bench at worst.
Last year it was fans of other teams asking why is India not being traded with all this depth. We’re is he going to play.
He ended up playing a lot because they had depth and clearly needed it. And even if there were not injuries. They would have figure it out.
@fred
The Dodgers being a super team also makes everyone better by default. Pitchers are focused on Ohtani or Betts or Freeman that they sometimes give soft stuff to the other guys in the lineup. Now he’s expected to be a top hitter on the Reds (without the protection of Ohtani and co.). I really don’t see it happening.
I hope Lux succeeds in Cincy. Best when both sides of a deal win. Keep those shoppers coming back.
That’s fair. Rarely does it happen, but ya never know. I think the Dodgers will be just fine. Not too sure about the Reds.
A weak link on the Dodgers is still a good player, though. He’s not a bum. On a non competitive team like the Reds, he could be one of the best players. Look at Michael Busch, couldn’t crack the Dodgers line-up and was a productive player for the Cubs last year.
True that. And LAD got Jackson Ferris and Zyhir Hope (now Dodgers #1 prospect) for Busch. Everybody’s happy.
He’s not even being expected to be a top hitter on their team. A complimentary hitter. To help the offense sure. But they are counting Cruz. Steer to rebound from his sophomore season. Stephenson. It’s just interesting how fans of other teams are confused why they would want him. Why they would need depth. And akready assuming they will be non competitive.
I hope Lux helps the Reds.
The people who talk about Lux that way are the people who watch him play 162.
He’s a plodding defender and a boring hitter. I’ll take the gold glove with speed even if he hits .230.
. If you had a decent season there is no way you’d get a sniff of Lux through waivers. So you can sit back and watch Lux get claimed 10 spots ahead of you, or you can pony-up a deal that improves your team.
Dont let blind jealousy keep your team in mediocrity.
@empire
Oh no, whatever would I do without Gavin Lux on my team?
The Dodgers aren’t dumb. They’re probably going to sign favorite son Kike Hernandez as soon as they can stash someone on the 60 day IL when spring training starts. They’re not going to DFA anyone special.
I wish the Braves would have made this deal
Call 1-800-REDS-INFIELD
I think Lux sealed his demise sparking a hooter on the parade bus while on live tv.
leftcoaster; I agree with you. After what the Dodgers went through with Bauer, it seems like if you don’t represent the team in a good way your days numbered. Buehler gone, he went to Florida last season to work on mechanics with a friend. Did he have the F.O.’s blessing? Flaherty, no interest in him so far, pretty inebriated at the World Series parade. Kike’ Hernandez, nothing so far, because of his F-bomb drop on post game interview? Granted all 3 players had a average to below average seasons, but……?
The players aren’t the ones poorly representing the team. It’s the ownership and FO.
Every season is a new season. A team has to look for ways to improve or they will be in decline.
Red coukda waited till Wednesday and got Lux for $7 at Taco Bell – comes w chips
Now we know why the Dodgers signed Kim. However we still don’t know why Kim made the lazy, boring choice.
Ya mean like former Mariner Teoscar? Maybe its your weather.
Kim made the choice because players like to win.
I hope somebody tells Lux not to un=pack when he gets to Cincy, it feels like he may get flipped pretty quick.
In 2024, Lux was .262/ .332/.739 vs rhp while Espinal was .289/ .344/ .739 vs lhp. Not a bad platoon at 3rd base costing about $5MM total. If Reds end up with Lux/ Espinal at 3rd, it’ll work until Marte or Collier/ Stewart is ready.
a stretch to think Lux’s arm will play at 3B
Lux/Espinal probably defend 3rd base better than what Reds got last year from Candelario or Marte. In Cincy, improvement comes in small portions.
Amen.
Lux couldn’t be worse.
Lux has already been moved off of SS because of the yips though. Maybe he overcame it but it’s the main reason he is at 2B.
Yeah, he could.
I love this deal for the Reds.
“But they have too many infielders”. The Reds started Nick Martini at DH on Opening Day 2024. Mike Ford was batting third for the better part of three weeks in May. Amed Rosario played most of September and had an OPS+ of 9… NINE.
This is what good teams do; they acquire talent, regardless of position, and find their best starting 9. Why? Because teams don’t want Opening Day DH Nick Martini. Or 3 hole hitter Mike Ford. Or 9 OPS+ Amed Rosario in the outfield.
Lux comes with two years of control and is fresh off a red hot second half; all that for an OF with tools, but no guarantees of success and the 37th pick.
One last swing for an outfielder and the Reds are cooking with gas.
Seems odd that a UTIL has question marks at all 3 OF positions and at 3B.
The ONLY place the Dodgers could find for him was 2B. Any throw longer than that was dubious at best. Maybe he relaxes with the change of scenery and tears it up. All I know is that I’m more comfortable with Kim’s speed and glove. Any hitting will be plus.
Lux is faster than Kim
A low Lux trade. Sure it wasn’t Sirotka?
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Dodgers go after Ha Seong Kim. Hyseeong can cover 2b until Ha Seong is ready to go for the season then move into utility role
Those is just a move to make it look like the Reds are doing something. They wasted all their money on the QO for Martinez. Reds needed a power bat in RF and wouldn’t pony up the money.
Nice to see the Dodgers sharing some of the wealth with other teams.
Dodgers/Reds 2025 NLCS.
More like replenishing the farm with expendable homegrown mlb-ready talent….
Ok that was not a team I expected to be in on Lux. Might they trade Candelario to Seattle?
Candelario for the Mariner Moose or some leftover Ichiro giveaways and it’s a deal.
Friday afternoon: Dodgers are “committed” to a middle Infield of Mookie Betts and Gavin Lux
72 hours later: Dodgers trade Lux to Reds
In public: “Gavin, you’re our guy”
Behind closed doors: “Back your bags”…
That’s how you get max value in trades. And they got a decent haul
@Rsox; kinda an unspoken or maybe spoken endorsement in sports, “he’s our player, he’s our manager or head coach”, almost a sure sign your days are numbered.
Sure wish Krall had convinced Dodgers to throw Cartaya in the deal.
Over/under on how many years before the Dodgers buy him back? They buy everyone in sight but eventually have to trade off pieces so they can keep stuffing their roster with as many high-priced purchases as possible. Getting rid of Lux also means there is one less name that clown bandwagon Dodger “fans” can drop when talking about how great the team is at “developing its own players” (really, even Kershaw shouldn’t count because he comes crawling back home every year as a FA refusing to play anywhere else because other teams won’t spend billions like the Dodgers to help him earn an easy ring).
ManfredIsAJokeIsAJoke
Roster crunch, nothing wrong with Lux, we are going to miss him and Dodgers need to replace some of the farm with this kind of trades to offset some of the penalties by going over the tax.
Sure it feels light the return, it 2 years control.
Late 1st/early 2nd round pick in the ’25 draft and a prospect they really like is a pretty good return for Lux’s league average play….
So who was the last above average regular dude that the Dodgers farm system was able to develop into a full time player? Will Smith?? Yeah; Will Smith. OV-ER RA-TED farm system.
Everything about that team is OV-ER RA-TED! They’re the new NYY. MLB would be better off if they were permanently banished from the league. A team like the LAD has no appreciation for the game.
Los Asians Dodgers
Reds fans, I’m seeing a lot of “Move Elly” or “Move McClain.” Do you see them dealing Candelario? Guy was a 3W player before coming over to Cincinnati. Maybe he needs a change of scenery? What do you think?
I think it sends Marte down to 3A to start season and everyone in the infield needs to earn their at bats. Reds have a lot of guys who can play several positions
Reds still need to add an OF thou. One more former top prospect in profar and I’ll call it one of reds best offseasons in a while ! Mainly due to Francona signing thou
So sad, Lux couldn’t make the All-Star team so he is packing his bags for Cincinnati, sitting on the plane looking solemnly out the window as he feels left out from the $1B freak show team that ruined the sport
incel energy.
Well effing said!
I’ve often wondered if these guys who get traded away by big market teams like the LAD, NYY, Sox, et. al. cry when they find out they’re being shipped out to a team like the Reds, Marlins or Bucs? Andrew Benintendi comes to mind.
Considering Andrew Benintendi is from Cincinnati, I highly doubt he would cry if he got traded to play in his hometown for the team he grew up rooting for.
Pretty confident he would be thrilled to be in the small market of Cincinnati over that big market in Chicago he chose to go to as a free agent. He’s already regretting that knowing the White Sox will be abysmal for the next few years.
A for LA. Love Sirota. Great floor ceiling combo. Love the draft pick. All for expendable Lux.
D for Reds. They need prospects. Need draft picks. Gave up both. Lux isn’t a needle mover.
Stick to a team that you know something about.
The Reds have a strong farm system. They don’t need prospects that will MAYBE reach MLB four years from now. Their window of contention has opened and they need players who have actually reached the Majors and who have had some success there.
This was an A for the Reds. At some point you need to utilize your prospect pool to better the team on the field. Lux is a huge improvement for them if he takes a bat like Fairchild’s or Benson’s out of the lineup.
That’s why reds are losers. “Window of contention”. It’s 2025. Smart teams don’t have windows. Just look in same division Milwaukee. Same state Cleveland.
Being the reds fan I am recently their farm system didn’t even show up in the top 10. Zips just drug then through the mud and Cincinnati now has a habit of amassing a lot of what ifs but never going after the proven thing. That approach doesn’t work in fantasy baseball let alone the real thing.
I don’t care if their farm system is number 1. No small market gas ever spent more than 130m. They need prospects. Only way they are getting a star. They should still trade prospects. For impact. Lux isn’t that. Now if they seen something and can out develop LA well done A+ for reds. If not they just gave away valuable prospects.
And it can easily be a A for them. If he’s knee is healthy he can play ss if they get his throwing improved. Heck they don’t even have to improve him. He hit the ball harder and better 2nd half. If he keeps that up it’s a A. LA knows what they are doing. Why didn’t they keep him is the question I ask. D is too harsh though. I will go C for Cincinnati. Paid fair price. Small markets need prospects but they also have to take a swing sometimes.
Someone check on Jerry DiPoto and see if he’s still got a pulse…
The moment the Dodgers signed Hyseong Kim, Lux was on his way out the door.
I like this one. Singer is a better fit than India. I bet they had no plans to get another infielder but it’s tough to get talent and Lux has talent. Maybe Terry gets it out of him or maybe they still have a trade coming. I’m just happy they are doing something. Reds fan since 75, most years they don’t do much.
That’s good – the Reds were short on infield depth!
Looks like the Reds are in Lux
“They could also use Lux at second base and slide McLain to the hot corner.”
This feels like the most likely scenario. Think McLain and Lux will platoon, with McLain also sharing time with Candelario at 3B when there’s a righty starting. I think the Reds will make this work to maximize each player’s productivity.
Baseball purgatory.