The Cincinnati Reds were involved in a three-team trade on Thursday night that sent utility infielder Gavin Lux to the Tampa Bay Rays. Lux's presence on the roster always felt redundant, and most Reds fans assumed it was only a matter of time before Cincinnati's front office found a taker.
Without Lux, rookie Sal Stewart now has a clear path to more playing time heading into the 2026 season, but there's still a hole in the Reds lineup. Cincinnati has been trying to find one more bat this offseason, but payroll restrictions have kept the Reds from finding the perfect fit.