The Los Angeles Dodgers were preparing to enter the 2025 season with Gavin Lux remaining at second base and Mookie Betts returning to shortstop, but the recent signing of Hyeseong Kim casted doubt on that plan despite recent comments by general manager Brandon Gomes.
There also was the fact that the Dodgers included Lux in trade talks with the Milwaukee Brewers for Devin Williams before he was sent to the New York Yankees. Williams himself remarked he began to expect a trade to the Dodgers.
In the days after Gomes reiterating the Dodgers’ intentions to have Lux play second base, it was reported he was the subject of trade interest from the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners.
According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Dodgers traded Lux to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for prospect Mike Sirota and a competitive balance round draft pick for 2025:
Full trade, per ESPN sources:
Cincinnati receives infielder Gavin Lux.
Los Angeles Dodgers receive a Competitive Balance Round A pick (around No. 37) and outfield prospect Mike Sirota.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 6, 2025
Sirota is a former Dodgers draft pick, as he was taken in the 16th round in 2021. However, he did not sign with the Dodgers and instead attended Northeastern.
Sirota then was picked by the Reds in the third round of the 2024 MLB Draft. He does not need to be added to the Dodgers’ 40-man roster.
Why did Dodgers trade Gavin Lux?
The Dodgers are facing a bit of a roster crunch in addition to having a surplus of infielders.
Gomes did note that because of the rash of injuries the Dodgers dealt with in 2024, they did not feel any pressure to complete a trade involving one of their infielders.
In trading Lux, the Dodgers conceivably have opened a spot for Kim to become their second baseman. He profiles as a utilityman but most scouts believe second base is where Kim could best establish himself in the Majors.
There also is the probability — if not expectation — that the Dodgers will re-sign Kiké Hernández at some point. Furthermore, although Betts is currently projected to play shortstop, his long-term outlook figures to be at second base.
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