MLB Mailbag: Lux, Giants, Orioles, Rockies, Blue Jays

Immediately’s mailbag will get into the Gavin Lux commerce, the Yankees’ infield, the Giants’ capability so as to add a bat, how the Orioles may commerce for a high starter, what a Blake Road Bombers Half 2 lineup may appear like for the Rockies, why some free brokers do not check in Toronto, why the Astros do not get extra flak for buying and selling Kyle Tucker, and extra.

Kyle asks:

What’s your tackle the Lux commerce to Cincinnati? As a Mariners fan I am a bit irked they would not beat the Reds supply (M’s have comp A choose #33, Reds traded #37 and a prospect for Lux). Are the M’s being too danger averse?

Leonard asks:

I heard on MLB TV that the Reds actually like Gavin Lux’s versatility to play a number of positions. Isn’t that one of many causes the Dodgers traded him? (Moreover the excess of center infielders). Lux is a mean 2B. He couldn’t make the throws from SS. He didn’t present that he may play 3B or the OF properly sufficient, both. Feedback?

Jeff asks:

After the Gavin Lux commerce, how a lot enjoying time do you assume Noelvi Marte will get this yr?

Dante asks:

Do you assume the Lux commerce for the Reds was in anticipation of one other transfer, one thing like a commerce from infield depth for Luis Robert? I perceive the will so as to add good gamers, however they do appear to have stockpiled a whole lot of infielders, and the workforce appears to wish some pop in the midst of the lineup.

Elliott asks:

After the Gavin Lux acquisition, who’s one of the best match for the Reds’ subsequent transfer? Most likely a right-handed hitting outfielder at this level?

Colin asks:

I’ve at all times preferred Gavin Lux though he has not but developed into the star he was projected to be. That mentioned, I’m wondering if the commerce clears the best way for Mookie Betts to return to his extra pure place of second base with Rojas and Kim splitting responsibility at shortstop? I might word too that it clears a roster spot for Sasaki, if they’re lucky sufficient to signal him. Your ideas?

Jason asks:

What do you make of the Gavin Lux commerce? Did the Dodgers have sufficient of him or did they like Alex Freeland sufficient to platoon with Kim?

Lux is a 27-year-old platoon second baseman.  He saved his season with a sizzling streak that I might say ran from July eleventh via September 4th.  In that interval, Lux posted an enormous 181 wRC+ in 161 plate appearances.  He then posted a 80 wRC+ in 62 plate appearances for the remainder of the common season, including one other 43 postseason PA with a .177/.286/.294 line.

Previous to his eight-week sizzling streak, Lux was one of many ten worst-hitting common place gamers in baseball over a span of 264 plate appearances.  On the season, Lux was closely shielded in opposition to left-handed pitching, dealing with southpaws solely 10.3% of the time.  That is for good cause – he posted an absymal 17 wRC+ in opposition to lefties in these 50 PA.

In feedback on MLB.com, Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall pointed to this October 4th article from Jay Jaffe of FanGraphs to assist clarify Lux’s second half efforts to swing more durable and do extra harm.  Lux’s modifications had been actual; he clearly began swinging more durable.  You possibly can learn extra about these modifications on this August eighth article from Fabian Ardaya at The Athletic.

Lux has a 108 wRC+ in opposition to righties over 1,210 plate appearances in his profession.  The eight-week streak is not sufficient to persuade me he is modified, particularly since he struggled once more for the final 105 PA of his season.

All that mentioned, Lux is a 27-year-old former first rounder.  There may be upside right here the place swinging more durable results in a 120 wRC+, he holds his personal in opposition to lefties as he did in 2022, and he turns into a 4-5 WAR participant and borderline star.  Possibly he can develop into ample at positions than different second base, too.  I do not assume the Reds are more likely to get that out of him when the Dodgers could not, however maybe being again within the midwest and out of the concentration is going to assist.

Defensively, Krall mentioned Lux will play second base, some outfield, and DH, and the workforce would “give him a glance” at third base and shortstop.  Lux famously had points making the throw from shortstop; it is laborious to see how third base could be any higher.  He confirmed seventh percentile arm energy this yr, most likely ruling out proper subject.  Lux dabbled in left subject as just lately as 2022, so I may see him getting time there.  The thought of Lux being versatile is overstated the best way it as soon as was when Jurickson Profar could not discover a place.  So sure, I agree with what Leonard mentioned in his query above.

As a second baseman, Lux was barely below-average in Statcast’s OAA this yr.  So I consider what the Reds have in Lux is 2 inexpensive years of a platoon second baseman who must be on the bench 27% of the time however is able to a 108 wRC+ in opposition to righties.  That is a helpful participant.

However what if I advised you there was a free agent, additionally controllable for 2 years, who would signal for $3.5MM and will just about do the identical issues as Lux, however has additionally demonstrated he can play third base properly?

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