The Los Angeles Dodgers head into the 2025 season with what they believe to be a deep roster and plenty of offense to defend their World Series title. That mindset was likely one of the biggest reasons behind their reported trade with the Cincinnati Reds on Monday.
When the Dodgers swooped in to sign Hyeseong Kim a few days ago, the writing seemed to be on the wall for Lux, who missed all of 2023 with a knee injury but came back to slash .251/.320/.383 with 10 home runs and 50 RBI to help the Dodgers claim the Fall Classic.
While Lux was key last season, the signing of Kim from the KBO also made him replaceable this season. During his eight seasons in Korea, Kim has seen action at second base in 657 games, easily the most of any position while being a threat at the plate and on the bases.
The signing of Kim (plus having Chris Taylor, who can also play second base, on the roster) helped pave the way for the Dodgers to look ahead to the future by acquiring a high draft pick next year as well as Mike Sirota, a player the Dodgers drafted out of high school but were unable to sign.
Ranked as the 50th-best prospect in all of the minors, the 21-year-old Sirota still needs plenty of development. However, he’s considered a solid center-field prospect, and Los Angeles has the luxury of letting Sirota develop while it continues with its current crop of All-Stars and heavy hitters in 2025 and beyond.
Dealing from a wealth of talent on their roster, sending Lux to the Reds makes sense. What might not make sense at the moment, however, is where Lux fits into a Cincinnati lineup that already has Matt McLain penciled in at second base. In 2023, McLain slashed .290/.357/.507 in 403 plate appearances before missing the 2024 season after shoulder surgery.
With that, the best fit for Lux may be at third base, but that’s a position he has only played in one game with the Dodgers. USA Today MLB insider Bob Nightengale reported that the Reds want to use him as a “super utility” player, meaning Lux may roam throughout the lineup until Cincinnati can find a spot for him to become an everyday player.
That, however, still isn’t assured, meaning this could be another question for the Reds heading into spring training.
The Dodgers quickly found their replacement for Lux, while the Reds now have to figure out where he fits into the puzzle. Add to that a piece the Dodgers believe in for the future, plus a draft pick, and it’s easy to see why Los Angeles won this trade.