Dodgers Offseason: What Will 2023 Look Like for Gavin Lux?
Gavin Lux’s Dodgers career has had its ups and downs already, and he’s only four years in.
After posting one of the best seasons of any minor leaguer in 2019, Lux made his big-league debut late that season but didn’t make a huge impact. It wasn’t until 2022 that he actually spent an entire season in the big leagues, and while he definitely took a big step forward in his production, he still hasn’t come close to what he did in the minors.
The 2023 season figures to be the most interesting of Lux’s career, simply because we have no idea what his role will be.
He played shortstop throughout the minors, but he was blocked by Corey Seager and then Trea Turner in the big leagues so he’s spent most of his time at second base. The Dodgers experimented with making Lux an outfielder, but it seems like they’ve mostly bailed on that experiment for the time being.
In his career, 59% of his plate appearances have some as a second baseman, with 23% at shortstop (mostly when Seager was injured in 2021), 13% in left field, and the remaining 5% split between CF, RF, 3B, DH, and PH.
Right at this moment, Los Angeles doesn’t have a shortstop. Trea Turner is a free agent, and it’s unclear what approach L.A. will take to the position next year. Shifting Lux back to his natural position makes a lot of sense in a lot of ways, especially with second-base prospect Michael Busch basically ready for the big leagues after posting a .881 OPS with 32 homers between Double-A and Triple-A last year.
Dodgers News: LA ‘Feels Good’ About Gavin Lux at Shortstop
More details here:https://t.co/oBpoFAAi6x— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) November 9, 2022
Of course, if L.A. goes after a shortstop in free agency or the trade market, Lux could stay at second base, where his athleticism might play up with the shift being banned next year. Lux had the third-fastest sprint speed of any regular second baseman last year, and that speed could be very useful with the second baseman having to cover more ground in the future.
And finally, there’s that third possibility, the one that has been rumbled about pretty much every offseason of his career: He could be traded. The Dodgers have some holes on their roster, and they have Busch waiting in the wings at second base. If a deal presented itself to improve the team with a trade highlighted by Lux, they’d at least consider it.
So there you have it: Gavin Lux could start 2023 as the Dodgers’ starting shortstop, the Dodgers’ starting second baseman, or not a Dodger at all.
What a crazy, uncertain offseason this is.
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Lux after a transition period can play a passable short. The throwing yips almost always happen at second base versus SS or 3rd. Because the close throws at 2 are touch throws at reduced distance. His average will drop a bit always hitting LH pitching as an everyday player. The problem is what does the middle infield offense combo produce in 23 versus 22? It will be a significant drop in hits, runs scored, rbi, and ops. Not sure who bats second but Freddie got a lot more fastballs because of TT on first, Gavin with his contact and good wheels needs to hit there as well.
I’d expect Busch to share time in left field and Lux to stay at second base. Dodgers will trade for a SS most likely.
Part of the problem is that the manager does not know how to set up a lineup order! Other Dodger hitters have suffered from this!! He couldn’t even get cleanup Right!!