3 Gavin Lux trades Dodgers should consider this offseason

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 02: Gavin Lux #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers calls for the ball on an out of Daulton Varsho #12 of the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium on September 02, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 02: Gavin Lux #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers calls for the ball on an out of Daulton Varsho #12 of the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium on September 02, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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We’re not saying the Dodgers *should* trade Gavin Lux, but if it strikes their fancy, they could entertain these deals this offseason.

Just one year ago, Dodgers super-prospect Gavin Lux was a shoo-in National League Rookie of the Year favorite, on par with his American League counterpart Luis Robert in Chicago.

About that…

The season was shortened to 60 games, Lux barely participated after being shoved off the Opening Day roster, and the honors went to Brewers reliever Devin Williams and Mariners outfielder Kyle Lewis, two completely unexpected candidates.

Lux will still very likely emerge as an infield stud in the coming years, and Dodgers fans shouldn’t be deterred by his .175 average and trio of homers in 63 at-bats as a 22-year-old. But at this moment, he doesn’t have a clear path to 600 at-bats next season if Los Angeles opts to bring back Justin Turner and Kiké Hernández, and we’re not sure exactly how patient both parties are willing to be here.

Holding Lux and banking on a bounce-back is by far the most likely option, but what if the Dodgers opt to win now (er, win even more now) instead? These trades could create a change of scenery and add another superstar or two in Dodger blue.

Dodgers
Francisco Lindor #12 of the Cleveland Indians (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

3. Gavin Lux in a Francisco Lindor Trade

The Dodgers still might pursue Francisco Lindor this offseason, and Gavin Lux might be a part of it.

Now, obviously, a Francisco Lindor trade is awfully complex, and might result in Corey Seager shuffling over to second base this season and the departure of Justin Turner. You also can’t extend both Seager and Lindor, so, uh, this would get weird.

But that hasn’t stopped the drama from circulating in this direction, and it’d likely take Lux to get it done.

The Dodgers would rather surrender suddenly-redundant infield depth than their top pitching prospects like Josiah Gray, who will be necessary insurance as veterans like Clayton Kershaw and David Price age. Lux would doubtlessly be this deal’s MLB-ready headliner, as Alex Verdugo was last year in LA’s very similar Mookie Betts trade.

For a lower-caliber superstar in Lindor with just one year of control, expect a package like Lux, Bobby Miller (No. 7 prospect), DJ Peters (No. 11), and Devin Mann (No. 19) to get the job done — if, that is, it becomes a job the Dodgers feel like doing.

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