Gavin Lux is out for the season after tearing his right ACL. How will the Los Angeles Dodgers replace him? Look internally.
The Los Angeles Dodgers not re-signing Trea Turner stemmed in large part because of their belief in Gavin Lux. Internally, the team believed the 25-year-old was primed to breakout with everyday at-bats, and viewed him as an integral part of their 2023 season.
But Lux suffered a torn right ACL and damage in his LCL during Monday’s Cactus League game and will undergo season-ending surgery on March 7, manager Dave Roberts told reporters.
Losing Lux for the season is a crushing blow and at this point of the year, the outside options are thin. Jose Iglesias is the top remaining free-agent shortstop with veterans Didi Gregorius and Andrelton Simmons also available. Jurickson Profar, the best free-agent available, has experience playing shortstop, but hasn’t played the position since 2018.
How the Dodgers will replace Gavin Lux
The Dodgers have not ruled out adding external options, sources say. But they are most likely to rely on their internal options, and Miguel Rojas is now expected to play a significant amount of time at shortstop. Rojas, 34, was acquired from the Miami Marlins this offseason, and while he is coming off a down season, ranked in the 98th percentile in Outs Above Average last season and is a career .260/.314/.358 hitter with 39 home runs and 269 RBI.
But the Dodgers can also be creative with how they deploy their infielders, with the versatile Chris Taylor being an option to see time at shortstop. Mookie Betts has stated a desire to play second base at some point to prolong his career and could see time in the infield. That’s not to mention top prospect Miguel Vargas, who was already slated to see a lot of playing time even before Lux’s injury.
The Dodgers have the talent throughout their lineup to overcome the Lux injury, but it further thins their shortstop depth after losing Corey Seager and Turner in consecutive offseasons. And places further pressure on that lineup, and Roberts, to overcome it.