I’ve never liked Gavin Lux. Great personality, but doesn’t belong with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Gavin Lux Needs To Be Traded
It just doesn’t seem right that a guy like Lux is on a team with stars if not superstars. He had a .251 average this season, in 139 games played. He also had 110 hits. Mookie Betts had 20 more hits than him, even though he played 23 games less than him.
His average exit velocity was in the 32nd percentile this year, and his barrel percentage was in the 29th percentile. Going to expected slugging, he was in the 39th percentile. All these are such poor numbers. At this point, his only asset on the batting side of things is his chase rate and expected batting average.
Now moving to his fielding. Horrendous. In 2019, he was on pace for 14 errors (played 23 games). In 2o20, he was on pace for 26 errors (played 19 games). In 2021, he was on pace for 16 errors (played 102 games, and finished with 10 errors). He’s improved a bit since then, finishing with nine errors in 2022 and 2024.
But, errors don’t show it all. Lux’s Outs Above Average number is -2, below average, but not too poor. The worst stat line on his Baseball Savant page, though, would be his arm strength, which is in the seventh percentile. This is probably why Lux didn’t look good during spring training this year, getting Betts shortstop time, before moving back to the outfield (Lux stayed at second). We all know that story.
Lux is still a great player, no question about that. He just doesn’t belong with such a star-studded lineup. We don’t need to replace Lux with a star, but with a guy that can do his part, maybe hit .270, with 150 hits every year.
Here are 3 things that they could do:
- Trade for Luis Rengifo
- Sign Gleyber Torres, and package Lux in another deal.
- Go for Willy Adames, and move Mookie to 2B. Package Lux in another deal.
The second or third option would be the most realistic, the reason being that Rengifo is on the Angels, who hate trading with the Dodgers. The thing is, if you want a younger guy, who’ll probably stay with you longer, you should get Torres. Adames is already 29, and you never know when a guy like Adames is going to retire.
Torres would also cost less money, as not all teams are going for him. You might be able to get Torres and Juan Soto and/or Teoscar Hernandez.
Rumors and News Roundup:
- You’ve probably already heard this, but Shohei Ohtani was the unanimous MVP for the NL, following Betts as one of the few players to win an MVP in the AL and the NL. Shohei created history this season, achieving a 50/50 season.
- The Dodgers have signed reliever Giovanny Gallegos to a minor-league contract.
- Clayton McCullough has left for Miami, but Jake Woodward has rejoined the Dodgers, now as the first base coach.
- The Dodgers have had some extension talks with Tommy Edman.
- The Dodgers have agreed to deals with RHPs Dustin May (2.135M/1-year) and Tony Gonsolin (5.4M/1-year) and have non-tendered RHP Brent Honeywell and LHP Zach Logue. Bye to our screwballer. I hope we never have to face him.
- The Dodgers added LHP Jack Dreyer to the 40-man roster.
- Former Dodgers Russell Martin, Hanley Ramírez, and Curtis Granderson are on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time.
- Dodgers are linked to Max Fried, Corbin Burnes, and Blake Snell, and have already had discussions with them.
- According to reports, the Soto interview went very well. Please do not expect the Dodgers to sign him immediately. This is the media junk that comes out after these sorts of interviews. Scott Boras will never let him sign with LAD.
That’s it for me. I’ll see you in the next Dodgers Rumors roundup. Meanwhile, I’m thinking about hosting a Dodgers mailbag. Please enter your questions in the comments below!
Main Image: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
