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Reds land infielder Gavin Lux in deal with Dodgers

The Dodgers had a number of options at infield after their World Series win over the Yankees and had reportedly been shopping Lux

ryan young
Staff writer
·2-min read

Gavin Lux is headed to Cincinnati.

The Reds struck a deal to trade for the former Los Angeles Dodgers infielder on Monday, the teams announced. In return, the Dodgers will receive a future draft pick and outfield prospect Mike Sirota.

"He's a guy who has a chance to come in and be in our lineup and lengthen that lineup out," Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall said, via ESPN. "Just us being able to add a left-handed hitter that hits well against right-handed pitching."

The Dodgers were reportedly working to find a trade partner for Lux, who drew interest from both the San Diego Padres and New York Yankees in recent weeks. The Dodgers signed Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim to a three-year deal earlier this month, and Kim could easily slide in and take Lux’s spot in the lineup. Mookie Betts is also expected to move into the infield next season, and the team signed an extension with Tommy Edman in November. That left the Dodgers with plenty of options, so moving on from Lux seemed inevitable.

Lux held a .251 batting average with 10 home runs and 50 RBI, both of which were career highs, last season with the Dodgers. He spent all six of his MLB seasons with the franchise, winning a pair of World Series. Lux had a hit and an RBI in October in the team's 4-1 series win over the Yankees, which gave the club its eighth World Series title. He missed the 2023 campaign while recovering from a torn ACL.

The 27-year-old is set to earn more than $2.7 million next season. He will hit free agency after the 2026 campaign.

The Reds went 77-85 last season and missed the playoffs for the fourth straight season. The team fired manager David Bell in September and has since hired Terry Francona to replace him. Lux will join star Elly De La Cruz in Cincinnati's infield. The Reds traded second baseman Jonathan India earlier this offseason, too, so Lux could take over at second — where he spent most of last season with the Dodgers. The Reds are likely going to move Lux around to see where he best fits. Matt McClain is expected to be available at second base, too, after he missed last season with a shoulder injury

The pair will attempt to lead the Reds not only into the playoffs for the first time in half a decade but also to a postseason series win — something the franchise hasn't seen since 1995.