ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays found their new second baseman late Thursday night, completing a three-team trade to acquire infielder Gavin Lux that became official on Friday.
Lux, once a top prospect in the Dodgers system, came to the Rays along with pitching prospect Chris Clark in a deal that sent right fielder Josh Lowe to the Angels. Lux spent last season as a utility player for the Reds, but most of the 28-year-old’s professional experience has come at second base.
President of baseball operations Erik Neander confirmed Friday that Lux will enter Spring Training as the “leading candidate to assume a heavy load at second base” for Tampa Bay. The Rays believe Lux is at his best defensively when he can focus on playing second base, and they expect him to be motivated in his final season before reaching free agency.
TRADE DETAILS
Rays get: INF Gavin Lux (from Reds), RHP Chris Clark (from Angels)
Angels get: OF Josh Lowe (from Rays)
Reds get: LHP Brock Burke (from Angels)
“In our opinion, second base is his best position, and he plays it at his best when the entirety of his time is focused there,” Neander said. “I think that's how we're going to get the best out of him on the defensive side of the ball, and feel good about what that's going to look like with that approach and that type of clarity.”
Second base had been an open question since the Rays traded Brandon Lowe to the Pirates in another three-team trade earlier this offseason. Lux could have some competition in Richie Palacios, another left-handed hitter who can play around the diamond, but Palacios has missed a significant amount of time due to injuries the past two years and the Rays seem determined to let Lux focus on one position.
“We need to make sure that we just have a little more protection going this year than what we did, and believe Gavin's in store for a big year,” Neander said.
Lux and Josh Lowe once attended a pre-Draft workout together at Tropicana Field, and Lux was the Dodgers’ first-round pick in 2016, seven picks after the Rays took Lowe. He shot through the Minors and was ranked as the No. 2 prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline entering the 2020 season following his debut in September 2019.
He posted a 96 OPS+ while playing around the diamond over five seasons with the Dodgers, who dealt him to the Reds a year ago. Last year, Lux hit .269/.350/.374 with five homers, 28 doubles, 53 RBIs and minus-0.2 bWAR in 140 games for the Reds. He was mostly used as a designated hitter and left fielder, although he still saw some work at second and third base.
Neander said the Rays were drawn to Lux’s performance against right-handed pitching. He has posted a .269/.344/.406 slash line against righties in the Majors compared to a .198/.277/.260 line against left-handers. He won’t replace Brandon Lowe’s home run output, or perhaps even a healthy Josh Lowe’s left-handed power, but Lux has found ways to be productive.
“From giving him the clarity of being the second baseman and the on-base skills and what he can do offensively, especially against right-handed pitching, [we] have a lot of confidence that's going to give us a big lift,” Neander said.
Lux is set to earn $5.525 million this year before reaching free agency at the end of the season. The Rays took on salary in the deal, as Lowe is set to earn $2.6 million this year while remaining under club control through the end of the 2028 season.
Neander said several times that it was not an easy decision, given their attachment to Lowe. They still hold a stubborn belief that he will bounce back and return to his 2023 form after consecutive disappointing seasons. The Rays simply felt that moving a left-handed-hitting outfielder for a lefty-hitting infielder made their club better this year.
“Him, his family, we think the world of them. That’s part of what makes this tough,” Neander said. “But we have to do what’s best for the organization at the same time.”
While landing Lux clarifies the second-base situation, Tampa Bay’s outfield picture likely won’t come into focus until closer to Opening Day.
The Rays expect free-agent pickup Cedric Mullins to play a prominent role in center field. He could be flanked in the corners by a number of left-handed hitters, including veteran Jake Fraley, speedster Chandler Simpson, Palacios and recently acquired prospect Jacob Melton, who is also capable of playing center.
The Rays have right-handed-hitting options in the outfield, too, including Ryan Vilade, Jonny DeLuca and Justyn-Henry Malloy.
“We have players coming off of injury-marred years. We have players coming off of disappointing performances,” Neander said. “Still feels a little bit like a 15-man battle royale out there for opportunity.
“I'd expect a lot of competition in camp, and we'll see who takes it, earns it and makes something of it. … I think they're going to push each other, and I think we're going to be OK.”