The Rays swapped Josh Lowe for Gavin Lux as part of last night’s three-team trade. President of baseball operations Erik Neander discussed the move with Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times after it was finalized this morning.
Neander indicated the Rays were likely to narrow Lux’s defensive focus to his traditional second base position. The former top prospect worked in a utility role with Cincinnati last year, only starting 16 games at the keystone. He spent the majority of his defensive work in left field and started more games at designated hitter than any individual position.
“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 told Topkin. “The way things played out in Cincinnati last year, there was more opportunity in left field, more DH, more pinch-hit, a little bit of second base, but his work was not focused at second base. I think Gavin is someone that we can give him some clarity that, ‘Hey, second base, put your work in there, build your routines there, prepare for that, and basically that only.’ And I think that’s how we’re going to get the best out of him.”
Lux has played more second base than any other position in his career. He graded as a slightly above-average gloveman by both Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Average between 2019-22. Lux missed the entire ’23 season with a torn ACL. The Dodgers initially planned to move him up the defensive spectrum to shortstop when he returned. They scrapped that when he struggled with his throwing accuracy during Spring Training. Lux’s arm is less of an issue on the right side of the infield, but his overall defensive grades have dipped in the last two years.
The Rays apparently feel that last year’s metrics are attributable to the multi-position role. Committing to Lux as an everyday second baseman would have trickle-down effects for the rest of the roster. That probably locks Taylor Walls in at shortstop to open the season, allowing them to send Carson Williams back to Triple-A to work through contact concerns.
Richie Palacios had been the in-house favorite for second base playing time after the Brandon Lowe trade. He’s most adversely impacted by the acquisition of Lux, who has a similar skillset. They’re each left-handed bats whose games are built around strong on-base ability despite limited power. Palacios hit well in a tiny sample last year but was limited to 17 games by a pair of injuries — a broken right ring finger and a more significant knee sprain that cost him the bulk of the season.
Palacios still has a minor league option and could head to Triple-A for another season. His best path to MLB playing time now is probably in the corner outfield. Palacios has played nearly 500 innings as a left fielder over parts of four MLB campaigns. The Rays have a wide open outfield around Cedric Mullins, who is likely to be the everyday center fielder. Jake Fraley, Jonny DeLuca, Chandler Simpson, Justyn-Henry Malloy, Ryan Vilade and trade pickup Jacob Melton will also compete for playing time. Fraley, Palacios, Simpson and Melton are all left-handed hitters.
At least they said “Second Base” instead of “Shortstop”. All kidding aside Williams should be at SS, let Walls move around the Infield
Rays want the extra year of control that comes with having Williams start the season in Durham. It’s a done deal now.
Williams will strike out 250x next season if he’s up all year. His swing and miss is a valid reason to not face major league pitchers right now.
At least Tampa won’t have to pay the “Lux” tax.
I don’t care about the Rays, play to win. All I care about is Melton. I really love that guy, wish he got a shot in Houston. Best of luck in Tampa, hope you excell.
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Lux has a “similar skillet “
That’s the best typo EVER !
Haha regret to inform this is now fixed. Thanks!
Dude !
I believe my wife may have a Luxe skillet among her kitchen cookware. I’ll check to see if it’s the Gavin model. 🙂
He’s really just a platoon bat — like Josh Lowe. Lux has a .537 ops vs lhp. So the Rays could use a RHH middle infielder to share his load.
Except that the Rays don’t have a right-handed middle infielder.
You mean besides Carson Williams and Taylor Walls.
Split stats aren’t all that hard to work around as a manager. He can mitigate them by giving the player a day off against a tough lefty. Insert him in after the lefty departs against the righty reliever if he’s needed. Players need days off. Just do it strategically.
Weird. All the way around. From the story to the quotes. To the motivation for why any of this was written.
Yeah, what’s with calling him full-time? Takes nothing to glance at the huge splits. The Rays have always been good at finding these ‘fractionated’ parts, sewing them together and voila’ it comes out all right. Players, the platoon kind, come cheaper that way. Lux is 2/3 of a very good player and that’s valuable but I doubt they’ll be stacking him up much against the likes of those tough Boston lh starters.
For instance, Brandon Lowe was good enough vs lhp (.700 ops) to keep in on most occasions but Joey Wendle (.623) was not. Recent Rays teams were brilliant in how they married Wendle and Brosseau, Jiman Choi and Luplow or Amed Rosario or others, Josh Lowe and Margot. Top players at the positions go for 30-40 million (or more) but they got similar defense and close to the hitting production for a fraction of that price. SF Giants were good at the platoon game too but they had more money to blow, the Rays had to thread that needle and they did. I’m curious to see who they’ll marry Lux with.
Why not part-time pitcher as well?
Report: Rays to not ne very good at 2B
Watched him every game while he was a red. Great guy. Hard nosed player. Soft hitting, doesn’t sting the ball. Average to slightly below average defense. Can’t hit lefties. He’s better off in a platoon, especially late in games when teams will throw lefties at him. Not a top of the order guy.
Second basemen are all the rage right now.
Doh!
These Rays, they’re like the Dodgers of Florida!
You jest, but as they are the highest spending MLB team in Florida, they really are the Dodgers of Florida.
The Dodgers don’t just outspend other teams and call it a day. The also excel from the front office. They traded Gavin Lux to the Reds for a draft pick and top OF prospect Mike Sirota. Lux probably shouldn’t even be a starter at this point.
Where did Neander indicate that he will be the everyday 2B? With his pronounced platoon split it seems hard to believe he will start against many lefties.
Lux will end up doing well in Tampa. He needs consistent at bats and play in the field. He might never be a star, but he should be slightly above average with the bat ice he gets his rhythm.
He was just hitting his stride the m towards the end of the season then the ACL took him out. I think confidence is his biggest issue.
With the ties the Rays have with the Dodgers, they probably know best how to utilize him.
hope you’re right. I like the kid. I watch a lot of Dodger games and I think you’re on the mark saying confidence is a huge issue for Gavin.
There was a point in his last healthy season with the Dodgers towards the end of the season when he really stopped worrying about being great to fit in.
It clicked and his bat went crazy. He talked about it in local interviews how he was trying way too hard and just needed to do what got him to the Dodgers. Spring training came and he was smoking the ball. Then he blew out his ACL.
The ACL thing really messed up his mentality, and then he got the yips at shortstop. He has the range and arm for SS, but couldn’t throw it to first. Totally mental, and reminded me of Steve Sax.
That’s the only reason they moved him to second and Mookie went to SS from second.
He’s an excellent ballplayer if his mind is right.
So does his mom
Good luck, Gavin. Don’t let the days go by.
It’s the rays…..so I’m sure he will finally reach his potential and be an allstar.
Remember when Lux had the Dodgers SS job and then flubbed it? Felt bad for him.
.355 OBP, watch.
I remember when the Dodgers refused to include Lux in a proposed trade to get Francisco Lindor from Cleveland and it killed the deal.
Obviously they never saw him play second base. But at least you they aren’t putting him in left field.
Waste of a deal when the Reds got him as he wasn’t needed.
Lux’ primary position coming up was SS & supposedly his best?