Projecting the 2025 Reds Opening Day lineup following Gavin Lux trade

The Cincinnati Reds added a new bat to their lineup this week with the acquisition of Gavin Lux. The Los Angeles Dodgers, who has just signed Hyeseong Kim to a free agent deal, had one too many infielders and worked out a trade with the Reds, sending Lux to the Queen City.

On the surface, the trade seems a bit peculiar. After all, didn't the Reds just trade away a very similar player (Jonathan India) earlier this offseason? Nonetheless, Lux's surge at the end of last season and his two years of team control were no doubt appealing to Nick Krall and the Reds' front office. In return, the Reds sacrificed outfield prospect Mike Sirota and a pick in this summer's MLB Draft.

Lux brings a sweet left-handed swing to the Reds' infield, though Krall said the 26-year-old will be given some reps in the outfield as well. Lux came up as a shortstop, but numerous throwing errors forced LA to eventually move him to second base. In addition to second base and the outfield, Krall also mentioned the possibility of Lux playing third base and acting as the team's designated hitter.

Projecting the 2025 Reds Opening Day lineup following Gavin Lux trade

Health is always a factor, but under the assumption that everyone leaves Goodyear, Arizona fully healthy, one of Matt McLain or Elly De La Cruz will be leading off for the Reds on Opening Day against the San Francisco Giants. McLain may get some reps in the outfield or even at third base, but he could be a Gold Glove-caliber defender at the keystone.

Tyler Stephenson proved that he is the leader of this team going forward, and many Reds fans hope that Cincinnati agrees to a long-term deal with their starting backstop prior to the start of the 2025 season. Jeimer Candelario will be looking to bounce back in 2025, and could see time at first or third base and also as the Reds' DH.

Spencer Steer has been a bit of a Swiss Army knife since coming to the Reds in 2022, but the addition of Lux could allow him to find a permanent home in left field. Cincinnati will reportedly give Lux a look at the hot corner during spring training. It might work, and then again, it might not. But Lux will factor in to the Reds' lineup against right-handed pitching.

Both Jake Fraley and TJ Friedl will be on the field as well when a right-hander is on the bump for the opposition. At the moment, Christian Encarnacion-Strand will likely split DH and first base duties with Candelario, but his struggles in 2024 could force him back to the minors at the outset of the 2025 season.

Absent from this lineup projection is Noelvi Marte. After a horrendous performance in 2024, the Reds should unquestionably send him to Triple-A to begin the season unless he just tears it up during spring training. Others who didn't make the cut include Will Benson, Santiago Espinal, and Jose Trevino, but all three could easily be part of the Reds Opening Day roster.

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