Last week, the Los Angeles Dodgers added utility infielder Hyeseong Kim. With his addition, the infield became very crowded — leading to speculation about who would be the odd man out.
However, General Manager Brandon Gomes has downplayed such speculation, suggesting that the team intends to integrate Kim into the existing roster rather than immediately pursuing a trade.
“I think it’s more that we’re adding a really talented player, and [then we’ll] see where things play out,” Gomes told reporters. “It’s helpful to have really strong pieces at a lot of different areas. So that’s how we’re viewing it right now.”
Yankees, Mariners Interested In Trade With Dodgers For Gavin Lux
But that won’t stop teams from reaching out about those players. Sources of Sports Illustrated have said that at least two teams are interested in a trade for veteran infielder Gavin Lux.
“As sources told Yankees On SI,” Pat Ragazzo of SI writes. “the Yankees have shown some interest in a potential trade for Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Gavin Lux. However, sources say the Yankees expressed interest in Lux several weeks ago and the Seattle Mariners have been more aggressive in pursuit of the infielder.”
While both are needy for infield help, the Mariners are the more desperate team to fill those positions. There have been reports that the Mariners are willing to part with top starting pitcher Luis Castillo to round out their roster.
Ragazzo also notes that after a hard-fought World Series, the likelihood that the Yankees and Dodgers would find an amicable position to make the deal happen would be ‘tough to envision.’
With Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and Max Muncy penciled in as starters at first, short, and third most of the big questions would be answered without Lux on the roster. They have plenty of intriguing depth that can play second including Kim. They also have Chris Taylor, Tommy Edman, and Miguel Rojas, who can rotate at several infield positions.
The big glaring hole the Dodgers still need to address is in the bullpen. If a team has an intriguing trade option for a relief pitcher, this deal makes all the sense in the world.
For his career, Lux has a .252/.326/.383 slash line with a .709 OPS, 28 home runs, and 155 RBI in 412 big-league games. He missed all of the 2023 season after suffering a torn ACL in Spring Training.
Lux would return in 2024 to play second base, slashing .251/.320/.383 with a .703 OPS, 10 homers, and 50 RBIs across 139 games. Lux’s best season came in 2022, where he hit .276/.346/.399 with a .745 OPS, six homers and 42 RBIs in 129 games.