When the Los Angeles Dodgers lost Corey Seager in free agency, they had a fellow All-Star in Trea Turner waiting — and ready — to slide over to shortstop. Now Gavin Lux may find himself in that position.
Despite interest from the Dodgers in re-signing Turner, he is bound for a return to the East Coast. Turner agreed to sign an 11-year, $300 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. The deal additionally includes a full no-trade clause.
When Turner was still a free agent and the Dodgers were additionally linked to the likes of Xander Bogaerts and Carlos Correa, general manager Brandon Gomes voiced confidence in Lux potentially taking over at shortstop.
Now that Turner has been removed from the picture, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman reiterated the organization’s confidence in Lux possibly becoming the new Dodgers starting shortstop, per Juan Toribio of MLB.com:
“I think just the experience we have with him coming up through the Minor Leagues and then also the two-month sample [in 2021] when Seager was hurt, he handled himself really well,” said Friedman. “And that’s his natural position. So I think it’s easier for him to do that than anything else we’ve asked him to do.”
Lux played just 31 innings at shortstop across nine games this past season, and has played 502.1 innings there in 68 games (50 starts) over the course of his career. Lux owns a .968 fielding percentage at shortstop, which is just a few ticks below his .973 mark at second base.
However, advanced metrics have not been favorable. Lux has just one defensive run saved and one out above average at shortstop, and his ultimate zone rating per 150 games is -10.4. Furthermore, Lux’s arm strength ranks in the 36th percentile.
Dodgers keeping options open with Gavin Lux
Amid a recent report of the Dodgers having trade interest in Kolten Wong and additionally signing one of the top shortstops, it was said one wrinkle would involve moving Lux to third base. Wong was traded to the Seattle Mariners shortly after.
Lux playing third base under any scenario would come as a surprise considering Max Muncy remains on the roster and the Dodgers have interest in re-signing Justin Turner.
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