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Gavin Lux trade is looking even better for Dodgers as prospect return turns heads

Would you look at that.
Emma Lingan
Emma Lingan

Dodgers Way

Division Series - Los Angeles Dodgers v San Diego Padres - Game 3 / Harry How/GettyImages

When the Los Angeles Dodgers traded former first-rounder Gavin Lux to the Cincinnati Reds for outfield prospect Mike Sirota and a Competitive Balance Round A pick, fan reactions were decidedly mixed. Sure, after signing Hyeseong Kim, the Dodgers didn't really need Lux anymore – but how much value were they really getting in return?

Nine months later, the answer seems pretty clear: A lot.

Cincinnati bought low on Sirota in the third round of the 2024 MLB Draft, but now it's looking like the Dodgers may have acquired a legitimate first-round talent. Sirota has already garnered recognition on various Top MLB Propsects lists, including Jim Bowden's Top 50 in The Athletic (subscription required) and Jim Callis' 2025 All-Breakout Prospect Team in MLB Pipeline, and it's easy to see why.

Gavin Lux trade is looking even better for Dodgers as prospect Mike Sirota turns heads

Sirota has been absolutely crushing the ball in 2025. At Single-A Rancho Cucamonga, he slashed an eye-popping .354/.452/.616 with 13 home runs, displaying elite power and plate discipline. He has continued his tear in 34 games since his promotion to High-A Great Lakes with an outstanding .316 average and a 1.014 OPS that make him one of the most productive young bats in the minors.

Baseball Savant grades Sirota at or above 55 in almost every category – hit, run, arm, field – with overall tool projection at 55. He combines plus bat speed, elite plate recognition, plus running speed, above-average arm strength and solid outfield defense – making him a legitimate long-term center field option for the Dodgers with potential 20-20 upside.

Sirota's floor is likely a solid defensive fourth outfielder, but his ceiling is sky-high. At 22 years old in High-A, he is already projecting as a fringe All-Star center fielder with power-plus speed who could make his MLB debut for the Dodgers as soon as 2027 if he continues on his current development trajectory.

In short, Sirota is turning heads – and fast. His blend of tools, polish, and production makes him more than just a prospect; he's a potential core piece in the Dodgers' future outfield. That was value they'd never thought they'd get for Lux, who had pretty much lost a lot of his value over the last couple of years due to injuries and inconsistency.

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Emma Lingan

Emma Lingan

Emma Lingan is an MLB Staff Writer for FanSided primarily covering the Pittsburgh Pirates. She has been covering baseball for more than a decade dating back to her time as a student at Wake Forest University, and she has won two gold medals as a member of the U.S. National Team delegation (2016 Pan-American Championships & 2017 World Baseball Classic). A native of Washington, D.C. and current resident of Nashville, Tenn., she is also entering her seventh season as a credentialed NHL media member and currently covers the NHL’s Nashville Predators for The Hockey News. When she's not watching hockey, baseball or football, she enjoys podcasting, reading, going to the gym, consuming large amounts of coffee and taking long walks with her dog, Minkah. You can follow her @Emma_lingan on Twitter and Instagram.