The Dodgers are trading former first-rounder Gavin Lux to the Reds, the club announced on Monday. Los Angeles will receive prospect Mike Sirota and a Competitive Balance Round A pick in return.

Lux seemed like a potential trade candidate for much of the offseason, especially when the Dodgers announced that Mookie Betts would move back to the infield. The front office then said multiple times that the plan was for Betts to play shortstop and Lux to start at second base. The thing is, plans sometimes change.

TRADE DETAILS
Dodgers receive: OF Mike Sirota, Competitive Balance Round A pick
Reds receive: 2B Gavin Lux

The Dodgers had a surplus of middle-infield options, with Tommy Edman, Miguel Rojas and Chris Taylor also in the mix. The signing of Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim further increased the likelihood that Lux would be dealt. Both are left-handed hitters at the same position, although Kim was initially described as being in a super-utility role. Now, it seems like Kim will see much more regular playing time at second base.

Selected 20th overall as a high schooler in the 2016 MLB Draft, Lux ranked among the Dodgers' top prospects before making his debut in '19. He entered '23 expected to be the team's starting shortstop, but he tore his ACL in a Spring Training game and was forced to miss the season.

Lux came back in 2024 and was again expected to be the Dodgers' shortstop, but he was moved to second base after struggling defensively during spring games. He then got off to a slow start at the plate in his first season back from the ACL injury, hitting .213 with a .562 OPS in the first half.

But Lux found momentum after the All-Star break, slashing .304/.391/.508 to provide the boost the injury-ravaged Dodgers needed. He then saw mixed results in the postseason but came up big in his last trip to the plate for L.A.: His eighth-inning sacrifice fly in Game 5 of the World Series tied the game before Betts drove in the winning run.

The strong second half of 2024 helped raise Lux's overall value. In five seasons with Los Angeles, the 27-year-old posted a 96 OPS+ (100 is league average) and was worth 7.6 bWAR.

Sirota, 21, was the Reds' No. 14 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. He was Cincinnati's third-round pick out of Northeastern University in 2024, but three years earlier, the Dodgers selected him in the 16th round out of The Frederick Gunn School in Connecticut. He is also a great nephew of late Hall of Fame left-hander Whitey Ford.

Per MLB Pipeline, Sirota's top tool is his 60-grade speed, which could help him become a legitimate full-time center fielder down the road. The right-handed-hitter has some raw power but is better known for his bat-to-ball skills.