Reds can’t be serious about defense with this glaring lineup flaw

The Cincinnati Reds front office and coaching staff have been preaching defense all season, and doubled down on that notion at the MLB trade deadline by acquiring Gold Glove third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

But can the Reds' identity of being a defensive-minded team really be true if Gavin Lux continues to receive reps in left field? The Reds have deployed Lux in the outfield multiple times this season, and almost every time it turns disastrous.

Monday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies was the latest example of Lux's subpar defensive play in the outfield. While it may not have actually decided the game, Lux misplayed the ball off the bat of Weston Wilson in the bottom of the eighth inning and allowed Edmundo Sosa to score the tying run.

Reds can’t be serious about defense with Gavin Lux still playing in LF

Lux later airmailed a throw trying to gun down Wilson at the plate. The errant toss allowed Trea Turner to advance to third base. Though he would eventually score on Kyle Schwarber's two-run home run, allowing the runner to get to third base rather than keeping him at second is not good fundamental baseball — something Francona's preached time and time again this season.

The Reds can't continue to trot out Lux into left field. Quite frankly, if Francona wants to keep his bat in the lineup — which is understandable — Matt McLain should be moved to the bench and Lux can take over at second base. Though Lux isn't a stalwart defender at the keystone either, his 0 defensive runs saved (DRS) and 0 outs above average (OAA) at second base look a lot better than his -5 DRS and -6 OAA in the outfield.

Jake Fraley, who's an above-average defender (2 DRS and 1 OAA) could then be moved out to left field, which would give Cincinnati a rather capable defensive alignment — both on the infield dirt and the outfield grass.

Some infielders, like Noelvi Marte, take to the outfield without much issue. But it's evident that Lux has no business lining up in left field — especially during a one-run game when Fraley is on the bench. Francona made multiple errors during Monday's loss, but he can make amends for that blunder by never sending Lux to the outfield again.

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