Reds swipe possible Yankees second base solution after surprise Dodgers trade

Were the Los Angeles Dodgers still committed to Gavin Lux at second base and Mookie Betts at shortstop after pulling off the surprise signing of KBO infielder Hyeseong Kim? The New York Yankees, with a second base void of their own, were about to find ou -- just kidding, the Reds got there first. Or ... wait, is this still twisting and turning?

Just as we began to examine (and warm up to!) the idea of Lux, a former top-10 prospect league-wide, arriving in New York and living up to his full potential (while building on his second half success), Cincinnati cut in line.

For those keeping track at home, Sunday's rumors indicated that the Yankees had touched base with the Dodgers on Lux, but that the Seattle Mariners had pulled ahead.

Monday's news? The Reds and Dodgers came to an accord. This stings in New York, obviously, but they were already purportedly in second place. What happened to Seattle?!

The cost was only a Competitive Balance Pick (No. 37 overall) and former Dodgers high school draftee/2024 Reds draft pick outfielder Mike Sirota, and now Cincinnati will try to juggle the same infield surplus LA just cleared. Or ... wait a second ... former MLB GM Jim Bowden, who's been in the Yankees' corner plenty lately, believes there is a chance that the Yanks hopped in the middle here, and will take Lux from Cincinnati.

EDIT: Nope. He doesn't. He was so wrong. Man, he was sooooo wrong. #Clarification.

Are Yankees about to trade for Gavin Lux after surprise Reds-Dodgers deal?

There are obvious reasons to like Lux. The prospect pedigree. The second-half surge (152 wRC+ and seven bombs/.898 OPS) after his bat speed returned. Was he gripping it and ripping it to pre-ACL tear levels, finally comfortable again? Or was this an all-new Lux with a totally different profile?

We won't dwell on it too long; he's a Red. That seems official. Luckily, we didn't have to wait long to see if Bowden was cooking a fine stew or merely a hot, wet pot of boiling street water. It appears we will not receive the second Yankees-Reds trade in just a few weeks.

Otherwise, there's always Luis Arraez.

DAMMIT.