Dodgers: Could Gavin Lux be a trade deadline casualty?

Serious and non-critical question: Do the Los Angeles Dodgers need Gavin Lux? Have fans seen anything from him suggesting that he’s integral to the next great Dodgers team?

The truth is, Lux has underwhelmed at the plate and hasn’t exactly blown anybody away with his middle infield defense. And if you’re going to have shortcomings on offense, you usually better have near-flawless capabilities with your glove. That’s just the way of MLB.

Additionally, the Dodgers have managed to get by with … just about everyone.

Cody Bellinger has largely been bad. Mookie Betts has been constantly hampered by injuries. Corey Seager has been out for months. And that’s just the lineup! We could talk forever about the pitching staff.

Lux has joined those hitters on the injured list, which has further forced the infield to shift around. We’re seeing a lot of Chris Taylor and second base/shortstop and Max Muncy at second base. And they’re handling business just fine. Plus, they provide much better offense.

Does that mean the Dodgers could stand to dangle Lux at the trade deadline?

Could Dodgers infielder Gavin Lux be a trade deadline casualty?

Lux’s start to his MLB career hasn’t been great, and his first half of 2021 could have fans wondering if he’s going to pan out with the expectations that come with being named the No. 1 overall prospect in baseball.

The 23-year-old has benefitted from being surrounded by a cavalcade of All-Stars and has somehow managed to produce a subpar .221/.297/.358 slash line with 11 home runs and 54 RBI in 124 career games. He’s also struck out 117 times. Also, for a guy who slugged in the minors, a career .137 ISO is … bad.

With Michael Busch ascending through the minor leagues and the likelihood Taylor and/or Seager will be back in 2022, would it be crazy for the Dodgers to pitch Lux discovering his true potential elsewhere? How about a trade with the Nationals for Max Scherzer? Whoops, can’t do that any more! Maybe to the Twins for Jose Berrios? Maybe he’s a piece in a trade with the Cubs for Kyle Hendricks? It’s probably better than whatever the Giants could offer!

Lux has proven he can hang at the MLB level, but the Dodgers need to upgrade in so many other ways this year and beyond in order to remain atop the contender totem pole. Lux could very well succeed elsewhere (and would be an intriguing piece to discuss), but when you’re a rich and resourceful organization like LA is, parting with such assets to patch up other deficiencies is the name of the game.

Andrew Friedman doesn’t need to sit on his gold mine of young talent. He doesn’t need to trade all of it, either, but capitalizing when it’s clear you can get by without certain players is shrewd and proactive.

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