According to Pat Ragazzo of Sports Illustrated, the New York Yankees expressed interest weeks ago in trading for Gavin Lux, an infielder with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Lux, who is coming off a strong season after recovering from a serious ACL tear in Spring Training 2023, posted a 100 wRC+ and hit 10 home runs.
With the Dodgers signing Hye-Seong Kim, they may look to trade Lux to clear roster space and address other areas of their team.
While the Seattle Mariners have been more proactive in their pursuit of Lux, the Yankees, who need help in their infield, could monitor the trade market for a potential upgrade.
Lux, 27, had a challenging 2023 season but showed noticeable improvement in the second half of 2024. He increased his swing speed and posted a 137 wRC+ with eight home runs and 16 doubles over his final 73 games.
His 2022 season, which featured a 113 wRC+ and a .346 OBP, also adds to his value, as he has a solid strike zone awareness and good contact rates.
The Yankees would be interested in Lux’s power development, as he set career highs in both ISO (.132) and home runs (10) in 2024. After losing Gleyber Torres, the Yankees are in need of an infielder, as DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Oswald Peraza are not starting-caliber players for a contending team.
Although the Yankees haven’t been heavily linked to many trade options, there has been speculation about Alex Bregman. However, concerns about how Bregman’s batted ball profile would fare in Yankee Stadium have made the team hesitant.
Meanwhile, the trade market for infielders has yet to fully develop, and with spring training approaching, the Yankees may take their time to make a decision. Free-agent options, such as Ha-Seong Kim, who could fill the defensive need but is recovering from shoulder surgery, are also on the table.
