Teoscar Hernandez, Miguel Rojas React to Dodgers Trading Away Gavin Lux
Major League Baseball is a business. But, that does not mean watching teammates get sent to other teams is an easy thing to watch.
The Los Angeles Dodgers traded second baseman Gavin Lux to the Cincinnati Reds on Monday. In exchange for Lux, the Dodgers acquired 21-year-old center fielder Mike Sirota and a future draft pick.
Lux spent the first five seasons of his MLB career with the franchise. The Dodgers drafted the Kenosha, Wisconsin native out of high school in the first round of the 2016 MLB Draft.
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A trade involving Lux had been highly anticipated, especially after the Dodgers signed free agent Hyeseong Kim. The Korean-born utility player will likely serve as the Dodgers second baseman. With Kim at second and eight-time All-Star Mookie Betts at shortstop, Lux’s value on the Dodgers roster faded.
Two of Lux’s former Dodgers teammates, outfielder Teoscar Hernández and shortstop Miguel Rojas, shared stories via Instagram revealing their thoughts about the Lux trade.
Rojas, who played alongside Lux for two seasons, wished luck to Lux as he begins the next chapter of his career with the Reds.
When Betts fractured his hand in June, Rojas replaced him at shortstop. Rojas and Lux played middle infield positions together throughout the rest of the season and postseason.
More news: Dodgers Make Trade, Send Former Top Prospect to Twins
As for Hernández, although he only played one season with Lux, the three-time Silver Slugger expressed his sadness toward the trade. He responded to the Dodgers’ tribute video to Lux with three sad face emojis.
Hernández signed a last-minute deal with the Dodgers last offseason. With Lux by his side, Hernández had one of the strongest seasons of his career and won his first World Series title.
Lux is the first player on the expected 26-man roster the Dodgers have traded. However, Rojas could be another player the Dodgers choose to trade, per reports. Meanwhile, the Dodgers signed Hernández for at least three more seasons.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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What Kim is A Japanese born player? Thought he was Korean.
Hyeseong Kim was definitely born in Korea, not Japan…
It’s a joke that they say Mookie Betts is a shortstop. He’s terrible at Short
I predict we’ll regret trading Lux. As a former minor league POTY, he clearly had a high ceiling. And with an .899 OPS (!) for the second half of 2024, it appears he is turning the corner and figuring it out. Why replace him now, just when the investment in him is starting to pay off? He’ll probably be an .800+ OPS guy for the Reds going forward. Plus he is young, affordable, and under team control. Kim must have made quite the impression in person. If the eye test says he is superior than Gavin in the field, I won’t argue with that. But one exhibition series against the Dodgers doesn’t show he can hit MLB pitching. I love Kim’s highlight videos but it is entirely possible we could end up worse off at 2B.
The guy I’m surprised we kept was the 35 year old Rojas. He had a career year at the plate in 2024 but at his age I see more reversion to the mean in the future. I would have loved to have kept Kike as our right handed hitting utility guy, and have Rojas on the coaching staff.
Very good observations Ron.
Kim is likely to share short stop with Miggy, and have Mooky at second base.
I absolutely HATE the fact that the Dodgers are even considering letting Kiké go AGAIN. He is always a joy to watch and excels at any and every position—no question. It does seem ridiculous that the Dodgers waited until Lux finally started to live up to his initial hype to trade him. But, if indeed it means that resigning Kike is more likely, then I’m all for it. I think Miggy still has more to offer on the field, but, I also believe that he will make an excellent coach. I don’t think the Dodgers should let him go. I really prefer to see Mookie in right field, but I think he will be fine in the infield given a little more experience. He has too strong a work ethic and too much natural ability to have it any other way.