Three-Team Trade: Angels Acquire Lowe, Rays Get Lux

A three-team trade announced Thursday night has reshuffled rosters for the Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Angels and Tampa Bay Rays, with the Angels acquiring outfielder Josh Lowe from the Rays, the Rays receiving infielder Gavin Lux and minor league pitcher Chris Clark from the Angels and Reds, respectively, and the Reds obtaining left-handed reliever Brock Burke from the Angels.

The deal addresses specific needs across all three clubs. For the Reds, the trade sheds the $5.525 million salary of Lux, who struggled in his lone season with Cincinnati after arriving in a previous deal from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Lux batted .269 with a .350 on-base percentage and five home runs in 503 plate appearances during 2025, but his defensive performance ranked among the league's worst, particularly in left field where he posted minus-five runs below average according to Statcast metrics. Primarily a second baseman by trade, Lux's move creates opportunities in Cincinnati's outfield and designated hitter roles, potentially for players like Spencer Steer or Will Benson. In exchange, the Reds add Burke, a 29-year-old lefty with a 3.88 career ERA over five major league seasons split between the...