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

Right this moment’s mailbag will get into the Gavin Lux commerce, the Yankees’ infield, the Giants’ capability so as to add a bat, how the Orioles might commerce for a prime starter, what a Blake Avenue Bombers Half 2 lineup might seem like for the Rockies, why some free brokers do not register 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 provide (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 might play 3B or the OF effectively sufficient, both. Feedback?

Jeff asks:

After the Gavin Lux commerce, how a lot taking part in time do you suppose Noelvi Marte will get this yr?

Dante asks:

Do you suppose 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 variety of infielders, and the staff appears to want some pop in the course of the lineup.

Elliott asks:

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

Colin asks:

I’ve all the time preferred Gavin Lux though he has not but developed into the star he was projected to be. That mentioned, I ponder if the commerce clears the way in which for Mookie Betts to return to his extra pure place of second base with Rojas and Kim splitting obligation at shortstop? I might observe 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 would say ran from July eleventh by way of 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, going through southpaws solely 10.3% of the time.  That is for good purpose – 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 tougher and do extra harm.  Lux’s adjustments have been actual; he clearly began swinging tougher.  You possibly can learn extra about these adjustments 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’s upside right here the place swinging tougher 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 turn out to be satisfactory at positions than different second base, too.  I do not suppose the Reds are prone 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 staff 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 power this yr, most likely ruling out proper area.  Lux dabbled in left area as not too long ago as 2022, so I might see him getting time there.  The concept of Lux being versatile is overstated the way in which 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 imagine 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 informed 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 effectively?

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