The New York Yankees had shown interest in acquiring infielder Gavin Lux, as reported by Jeff Passan of ESPN earlier today, but that option is now off the table. Passan revealed that the Dodgers have agreed to trade Lux to the Cincinnati Reds, which came as a surprise. While the Mariners and Yankees were the main teams publicly linked to Lux, Seattle was reportedly more aggressive in pursuing the 27-year-old than New York.
In return, the Dodgers are receiving outfielder Mike Sirota, the Reds’ third-round pick from the 2024 MLB Draft, along with a compensation pick. With Lux now off the market, the Yankees may have to refocus their efforts on other infield targets.
Lux, who struggled early last season following an ACL tear, found his form in July and finished the year with 10 home runs and a 100 wRC+. The Reds are hoping that a full season post-surgery will help Lux further improve his defense and speed. The trade also followed the Dodgers’ acquisition of Hye-Seong Kim, which complicated Lux’s role as both players are left-handed infielders, with Kim offering more positional versatility.
Gavin Lux
With Lux gone, the Yankees could turn their attention to Luis Arraez, another name Passan linked to them. Though Arraez may not be the most ideal fit defensively due to his limited speed and fielding abilities, his high on-base percentage (OBP) would fill a crucial gap in the Yankees’ lineup.
With just one year of control left and a projected $14.6 million owed for his final year of arbitration, Arraez may be more attainable for the Yankees, who are in need of OBP threats outside of Aaron Judge. Brian Cashman will likely continue to explore the trade market for potential solutions.
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