The Cincinnati Reds don't have a ton of tricky decisions to make this offseason with their own roster.
One they do have to make involves Gavin Lux.
Lux is up for salary arbitration, and MLB Trade Rumors projects him to get a salary of $5 million.
MLB Trade Rumors also writes that Lux is a non-tender candidate, meaning that the Reds may choose not to go to free agency with him and instead let him become a free agent.
Lux was once a top prospect for the Dodgers, but he was actually a below replacement level player for the Reds in almost full-time work in 2025.
He hit.269 but had just five home runs in 446 at bats. Lux's power has never fully developed.
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He has also become mostly a left fielder at this stage, which is a downgrade in defensive value from his days as a middle infielder.
The Reds have a relatively crowded outfield group. If they do indeed see Lux as a low-power corner outfielder without much speed, there's not really a ton he offers.
Lux does seem like the type of player who, about to turn 28, could still have value to another team. Maybe he could be traded before Friday's non-tender deadline for a small asset.
But if that doesn't happen, Cincinnati has to decide. It doesn't feel like there's a ton of upside to keeping Lux around, and maybe that $5 million could be used more at a position of need instead.
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