It did not take the Los Angeles Dodgers long to move an infielder after signing Hyeseong Kim.
The Dodgers have traded second baseman Gavin Lux to the Cincinnati Reds for minor league outfielder Mike Sirota and a competitive balance draft pick, the team announced Monday evening.
Lux, 27, slashed .251/.320/.383 with 10 home runs in 2024, his first season back from a torn ACL.
Lux is under team control through 2026 and projected to make $3 million or so through arbitration next season.
The Reds went 77-85 last season and have not been to the postseason since 2020.
After acquiring Hyeseong Kim, the Los Angeles Dodgers moved an infielder quickly. The Dodgers announced Monday night that they had traded second baseman Gavin Lux to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Mike Sirota, a minor league outfielder, and a competitive balance draft pick.
Late last week, Los Angeles signed Kim to a three-year deal. Shortly after, general manager Brandon Gomes stated that the team was not in a rush to trade an infielder. The Dodgers anticipate depending on a lineup that includes Chris Taylor, Miguel Rojas, Mookie Betts, Kim, and possibly Tommy Edman in the middle infield with Lux out of the lineup.
Gomes stated following the Kim signing, “I think it’s more that we’re adding a really talented player, and [then we’ll] see where things play out.”. “Having really strong pieces at many different areas is beneficial. That’s how we currently see it, then. “,”.
Slashed .251/lux, 27. 320/. In 2024, his first season back after tearing his ACL, he hit 383 with 10 home runs. In the second half, he was noticeably superior. compared to the first (, 899 OPS). 562 OPS) as his distance from the surgery increased. Lux is expected to earn about $3 million through arbitration the following season and is under team control through 2026.
Lux, who struggled with his throwing last spring and was moved from shortstop to second base, is difficult to match up with in the infield after the Reds traded incumbent second baseman Jonathan India earlier this offseason. Matt McLain is scheduled to return from shoulder surgery in 2025, and Elly De La Cruz is fixed at short.
As a rookie in 2023, McLain was a 3.7-WAR player at second base; however, he missed the entire season due to surgery after injuring his shoulder while diving for a ball last spring. The Reds need another bat, so McLain might move to the outfield, where he played in college and this winter in the Arizona Fall League.
Cincinnati selected Sirota in the third round of the 2024 draft at the age of 21. He hasn’t made his professional debut yet. He had “an intriguing collection of tools” and “speed (that) makes Sirota a legitimate longterm center fielder,” according to MLB Pipeline, which ranked him as the 14th-best prospect in the Reds’ system prior to the trade. “.
Every year, low-revenue and small-market teams receive additional draft selections known as competitive balance picks. They are the only tradeable draft selections in MLB. This trade’s pick is probably going to be in the No. 35 to 40 in general. The precise location will be decided after the remaining eligible free agents have signed.
The Dodgers are the current World Series champions and won an MLB-high 98 games in 2024. The Reds finished 77-85 in the previous campaign and haven’t made it to the postseason since 2020. Since 2013, they have not advanced to the playoffs in a season with 162 games.
