Reds were running out of reasons to keep Gavin Lux and finally acted

For much of the offseason, the focus for the Cincinnati Reds had been on adding to their lineup. However, when it came to one player, a subtraction was the best course of action. By bringing in JJ Bleday and Dane Myers, the Reds made Gavin Lux's expendable, and finally acted by trading him to the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday evening.

The chances of Lux getting a regular run in left field seemed slim. That wouldn't seem to be a problem for a player with the 28-year-old's versatility. After all, Lux came up as a shortstop and played extensively at second base before moving to the outfield, transitioning to more frequent outfield reps last season.

Putting Lux back at second, however, posed a problem. Terry Francona's pet peeve is defense, and moves like trading for Ke'Bryan Hayes at last year's trade deadline show the franchise's commitment to run prevention. Lux played sparingly at second last season, but in 124⅓ innings, his -4 defensive runs saved (DRS) and -3 outs above average (OAA) were particularly putrid.

Simply plugging Lux into the DH spot wasn't going to work either. While that was his most commonly played position in 2025, his five homers and .374 SLG left something to be desired for a bat-first player. Not only that, but now having Lux at DH meant having a superior hitter (Sal Stewart or Spencer Steer) or an otherworldly defender (Hayes) ride the pine.

Simply put, the Reds no longer needed Lux, but with the way the market was playing out, it was surprising to see other clubs not clamoring for his services.

The Reds were right to trade Gavin Lux before it was too late

The sheer number of teams that could've used Lux at second base (and might not have the same concerns over defensive performance) was astounding. The Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Angels, Kansas City Royals, and several others could use help at the keystone, but in the end, he wound up with the Tampa Bay Rays.

After the Arizona Diamondbacks yanked Ketel Marte from the trade block, Brendan Donovan became the lone worthwhile trade target. That is, if the St. Louis Cardinals actually trade him. Donovan has two years of team control remaining and will make a reasonable $5.8 million this year. If St. Louis doesn't get an offer that meets lofty demands, they could simply hold on to Donovan until the trade deadline, or next offseason, or next year's trade deadline. They have no rush.

As much as Lux might not have been a fit with the Reds, there are things to like about his game. His career 10.1% walk rate is well above average, and he's been a solid contact bat throughout his career. Overall, his offensive production is roughly league-average, which, given the position and dearth of options, isn't a slight.

The Reds could've held on to Lux as an insurance policy, at least until the trade deadline. But that would've been misguided. By that point, other clubs will have found alternatives, and if Lux were to struggle under the weight of inconsistent playing time, he would've looked a lot worse. Besides, if injuries strike, Cincinnati can dip into the minors and tap top prospect Edwin Arroyo as a fill-in (and potentially more).

Simply put, it was time for the Reds to move on from Lux.