Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said Friday that Lux will be the team's primary second baseman this season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Most of Lux's starts last season with the Reds came in left field and the designated hitter slot, but second base has been his primary position in the big leagues and the Rays had a clear hole at the keystone. The move from Cincinnati to Tampa Bay is a big ballpark downgrade for Lux, but he could play more for the Rays than he had been projected to for the Reds. Lux slashed .269/.350/.374 with five home runs in 140 regular-season tilts for Cincinnati in 2025.
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Rays' Gavin Lux: Traded to Rays
Rotowire
Lux was traded from the Reds to the Rays in a three-team deal Thursday that also includes the Angels, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. Chris Clark is also headed to Tampa Bay in the trade, with Brock Burke going to Cincinnati and Josh Lowe to Anaheim.
Lux is set to play out his final year of arbitration eligibility in 2026, making it surprising that the Rays seemingly targeted him in this deal. He should have a strong chance to serve on the large side of a platoon at second base, and that platoon is likely to be stricter in Tampa Bay compared to his situation in Cincinnati.
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Reds' Gavin Lux: Avoids arbitration
Rotowire
The Reds and Lux avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.525 million contract Thursday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
Lux had been eligible for salary arbitration for the final time, as he's slated to reach free agency next winter. The 28-year-old hit .269/.350/.374 with five home runs over 140 regular-season games in his first season with the Reds. The left-handed-hitting Lux should play regularly against right-handed pitching in 2026, though he's unlikely to be locked into one position defensively.
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Reds' Gavin Lux: Contributes to win
Rotowire
Lux started in left field and went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored in Friday's 3-1 win over the Brewers.
Lux was integral to the victory, which vaulted the Reds into a tie for the wild-card spot with the Mets, but Cincinnati owns the tie-breaker. He's been on a roll of late, going 12-for-35 (.343) with an .883 OPS, five extra-base hits and three RBI over the last 10 games. With Austin Hays (back) still sidelined, left field is available for Lux, who may also find opportunities at second base or designated hitter over the final weekend of the regular season.
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Reds' Gavin Lux: Supplies Sunday's lone run
Rotowire
Lux went 2-for-4 with an RBI double during the Reds' 1-0 win over the Cubs on Sunday.
Lux was responsible for the game's only run, when his double off Jameson Taillon in the third inning brought Matt McLain home. Lux has logged at least one hit in five of his last six games, going 8-for-22 (.364) with two doubles, two runs and one RBI over that span.
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Reds' Gavin Lux: Fills in at leadoff
Rotowire
Lux batted leadoff and went 3-for-5 with a run scored in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Cardinals.
Lux stepped in atop the order for TJ Friedl, who was given the day off. The multi-hit effort was Lux's first since Aug. 18 and his third consecutive game with a base hit. He's doing his best to break out of a September funk; prior to his three-game hit streak, Lux was hitless over 21 at-bats.
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Reds' Gavin Lux: Idle against southpaw
Rotowire
Lux is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cardinals.
With a left-hander (Matthew Liberatore) on the hill for St. Louis, the left-handed-hitting Lux will head to the bench after he had started in each of the Reds' previous eight games. Miguel Andujar will serve as Cincinnati's designated hitter in Lux's stead.
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Reds' Gavin Lux: Homers in Monday's win
Rotowire
Lux went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in Monday's 4-1 win over the Angels.
Lux had gone 37 games without a homer, picking up just six doubles in that span. He also batted .304 during the power drought. The 27-year-old is up to five homers, 47 RBI, 39 runs scored and a stolen base while slashing .281/.359/.386 over 395 plate appearances. He continues to see steady playing time in a strong-side platoon role, mainly between second base and left field.
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Reds' Gavin Lux: Taking seat against southpaw
Rotowire
Lux is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.
Lux went 2-for-6 with a run and two RBI in the first two games of the series, starting once in left field and once at second base, but he'll head to the bench against southpaw Jose Quintana. The Reds will go with Miguel Andujar in left and Santiago Espinal at the keystone.
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Reds' Gavin Lux: Late scratch Saturday
Rotowire
Lux is no longer in Cincinnati's starting lineup for Saturday's game against Atlanta, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
Lux had originally been penciled in to start in left field and bat fifth, but his spot in the lineup and in the field has been handed to Miguel Andujar. The change doesn't seem to be injury related; rather, Atlanta has scratched original starting pitcher Spencer Strider after a lengthy weather delay and is now starting southpaw Austin Cox. As a result, the lefty-hitting Lux will defer to the righty-hitting Andujar.
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Reds' Gavin Lux: Sitting Thursday
Rotowire
Lux isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against Atlanta.
Lux will sit down for Thursday's series opener after going 2-for-10 with three walks, an RBI and two runs scored during Cincinnati's three-game set against the Dodgers. Jake Fraley, Will Benson and Noelvi Marte will start across the outfield for the Reds while Austin Hays serves as the DH.
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Reds' Gavin Lux: Collects four hits
Rotowire
Lux went 4-for-4 with an RBI single during Tuesday's 6-1 loss to the Nationals.
Lux singled in all four of his at-bats Tuesday, and he delivered Cincinnati's only run of the game by plating Elly De La Cruz in the fourth inning. The performance marked Lux's second four-hit game of the season and the third of his career. In his last six games, Lux is 12-for-23 (.522) with a double and three RBI.
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Reds' Gavin Lux: Idle against southpaw
Rotowire
Lux is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.
With southpaw Austin Gomber on the mound for Colorado, the left-handed-hitting Lux will take a seat after he started in each of the Reds' last seven games. Lux will give up his spot in the lineup to Santiago Espinal, who starts at third base while Noelvi Marte serves as the Reds' designated hitter.
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Reds' Gavin Lux: Sitting against another lefty
Rotowire
Lux is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Yankees.
The Yankees are sending a lefty (Max Fried) to the hill for the second day in a row, so the left-handed-hitting Lux will once again take a seat. With Lux on the bench, Santiago Espinal will get the nod at third base and will bat ninth.
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Reds' Gavin Lux: Swats homer in loss
Rotowire
Lux went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Thursday's 12-5 loss to the Twins.
The Twins raced out to a 7-2 lead by the third inning, but Lux responded with a two-run blast in the bottom of the inning. It was his third home run of the season and second during the month of June. He served as the designated hitter Thursday but has also received starts at left field (27), second base (nine) and third base (four). That versatility should serve Lux well when Cincinnati's injured players -- Austin Hays (foot), Noelvi Marte (oblique) and Jeimer Candelario (back) -- are ready to return.
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Reds' Gavin Lux: Taking seat against lefty
Rotowire
Lux is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Guardians.
With lefty Logan Allen on the bump for Cleveland, Lux will take a seat for the series finale along with fellow left-handed hitters Will Benson and Jake Fraley. Lux had started at designated hitter in each of the Reds' last four games, going 4-for-18 with a home run and five RBI.
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Reds' Gavin Lux: Taking seat Wednesday
Rotowire
Lux is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers.
Left-hander DL Hall is opening the game for the Brewers, so the lefty-hitting Lux will begin the contest on the bench but could be a candidate to enter the contest once Milwaukee turns the ball over to right-handed bulk reliever Quinn Priester. Lux had started in each of the Reds' previous five games, going 4-for-15 with three walks and an RBI.
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Reds' Gavin Lux: Taking seat against lefty
Rotowire
Lux is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game in Pittsburgh.
It's southpaw Bailey Falter on the bump for the Pirates, so the left-handed-hitting Lux will begin the contest on the bench. Austin Hays is in left field and Tyler Stephenson is in the designated hitter spot for the Reds.
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Reds' Gavin Lux: Hitless in return
Rotowire
Lux started in left field and went 0-for-3 in Sunday's 3-1 win over Cleveland.
Lux was back in the lineup after missing Saturday's game with lower-back spasms. He and Austin Hays are sharing left field and DH duties for now. When one starts in left, the other is the designated hitter, although Lux is typically held back whenever the Reds face a left-hander.
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Reds' Gavin Lux: Scratched with back spasms
Rotowire
Lux was scratched from the lineup ahead of Saturday's game versus Cleveland due to lower-back spasms, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.
It's currently unknown if Lux's back will cause him to miss additional time beyond Saturday, but the Reds may provide more details in the near future. In the meantime, Will Benson will shift to left field to cover for Lux, opening a spot in right for Rece Hinds.
