Early into the new year the Cincinnati Reds completed a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers to acquire Gavin Lux in exchange for prospect Mike Sirota and a competitive balance pick in the 2025 MLB Draft.
The Dodgers saw it as an opportunity to acquire future assets by trading from what they considered a position of depth after signing Hyeseong Kim. Even though Lux only has two years of team control remaining, the Reds saw an opportunity to add a valuable veteran and former top prospect in baseball to their roster.
The Reds are looking to make some noise in the National League Central this season after hiring Terry Francona, a two-time World Series champion and three-time American League Manager of the Year. Francona is well-respected around MLB, even being a source of inspiration for Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
After doing his homework on Lux, Francona had nothing but praise and is looking forward to managing him in 2025.
“I talked to him pretty frequently right when we got him, just to try to line up when he was going to get out here, and myself being new too, wanted to make sure he knew how excited we were to have him. He’s a great kid,” Francona told DodgerBlue.com.
“Everybody I talked to with the Dodgers, I got some of the nicest texts, which made me feel good. They said, ‘You’re getting a baseball player. You’re getting a great kid. A kid that competes.’ It makes you feel good. We’re excited to have him.”
Both Francona and Lux joined the Reds with World Series pedigrees, and each will need to do their part in order to help turn the stagnant franchise around. The Reds have missed the playoffs in 10 of the past 11 seasons, with their success in 2020 being the exception.
On a Dodgers team with Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts — two players who have been performing at a high level for several years — Lux looked up to them and often went to his established teammates for advice.
Now with a new team, Lux is the one that others are looking to as an example.
Even if Lux is still only 27 years old, he has had his fair share of Major League experience after making his debut in 2019. But most importantly, he has won at the highest level, which makes him an asset for a young team looking to turn things around.
“I told him in our individual meeting the other day, ‘Don’t think other guys aren’t looking to you. You’ve been there and done it,'” Francona recalled.
“I said, ‘I know you’re young, but compared to most of our guys, he’s one of the veterans. Same thing with Trevino, who played in the World Series. That’s meaningful, and we’ll try to use it to our advantage.”
Gavin Lux reacts to Dodgers trade
Lux was initially emotional after hearing news the Dodgers traded him to the Reds, as he was leaving the only place and organization he had ever known as a Major Leaguer.
But he is excited for the opportunity ahead and is looking forward to helping lead what Lux believes could be an upstart team.
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