The Rays made a notable move in last night’s three-team trade, flipping outfielder Josh Lowe for infielder Gavin Lux. It’s a deal that speaks volumes about Tampa Bay’s current roster construction-and where they believe Lux can make the biggest impact. President of baseball operations Erik Neander made it clear: this is about giving Lux a home at second base and letting him settle in.
Lux, once a top prospect with the Dodgers, has bounced around the field in recent years. Last season in Cincinnati, he was used more as a utility piece than an everyday infielder-logging time in left field, at designated hitter, and only occasionally at second base. That kind of role can be tough for a player trying to find rhythm, especially one coming off a major injury like Lux’s torn ACL that sidelined him for the entire 2023 season.
Neander believes the Rays can unlock Lux’s best version by simplifying things.
“In our opinion, second base is his best position,” Neander said. “When his preparation and focus are solely there, that’s when he plays it at his best.”
It’s a philosophy that makes sense. Lux has logged more innings at second base than any other position in his career, and during his 2019-2022 run, he graded out as a slightly above-average defender at the position by both Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Average.
The Dodgers had hoped to shift him to shortstop in 2024, but his throwing struggles in Spring Training forced them to rethink that plan. The arm strength that’s a concern at shortstop becomes less of a liability at second base, where quick turns and shorter throws are the norm.
The Rays clearly see last year’s dip in defensive performance as more about role than ability. By planting Lux at second base full-time, they’re betting that consistency will bring back the plus defender he once was.
That decision will ripple through the rest of Tampa Bay’s infield. With Lux slotted in at second, Taylor Walls is the likely starter at shortstop to open the season.
That, in turn, gives top prospect Carson Williams more time to refine his offensive game in Triple-A. Williams has shown plenty of promise, but contact issues remain a hurdle.
The Rays are giving him room to grow without throwing him into the fire too soon.
One player who might feel the squeeze from this move is Richie Palacios. After the Rays traded Brandon Lowe earlier in the offseason, Palacios looked like the frontrunner for the second base job.
Now, he’s probably on the outside looking in. Like Lux, Palacios is a left-handed hitter with a high on-base profile but limited power.
The two occupy a similar lane, and Lux now has the edge.
Palacios had a brief but impressive stint last season, though it was cut short by injuries-a broken finger and a knee sprain that sidelined him for most of the year. He still has a minor league option remaining, so the Rays can send him to Triple-A to start the year. His best shot at big-league reps now may come in the outfield, where he’s logged close to 500 innings in left field over parts of four seasons.
And that outfield is wide open beyond Cedric Mullins, who’s expected to anchor center field. Jake Fraley, Jonny DeLuca, Chandler Simpson, Justyn-Henry Malloy, Ryan Vilade, and newly acquired Jacob Melton will all be in the mix for corner spots.
It’s a crowded group, and many of them-like Palacios-hit from the left side. That means spring training could be a high-stakes audition for more than a few players.
For Lux, though, the message is clear: no more bouncing around. No more trying to be everything all at once.
The Rays want him to settle in, focus on second base, and get back to being the player many thought he could be. If that plan works, Tampa Bay may have just found a steady infield piece with upside-and a clearer picture of how their 2026 roster is coming together.