Assessing Rays Lineup After Latest Three-Team Trade

Tampa Bay Rays fans are finally getting a glimpse at the painting which depicts the 2026 roster. The group pales in comparison to some of the star-studded lineups around baseball, but things could still break favorably and look better than some of the lineups the Rays have rolled out in recent years.

The addition of Gavin Lux, 28, in a three-team trade means that the Rays are importing a defensively versatile veteran who carries intrigue with the bat. He may never approach the power potential of Brandon Lowe, but Lux can be a potentially useful weapon next season. Josh Lowe is headed to the Los Angeles Angels after a largely disappointing tenure on the west coast of Florida.

Lux with the Rays

The Rays will represent the third team that Lux has played for during his six-year career. The majority of that time was spent trying to carve out a role with the star-studded Los Angeles Dodgers. After winning his second World Series ring with the 2024 Dodgers, he was traded last winter and the change of scenery seemed to pay off.

News: #Rays trade Josh Lowe to #Angels in 3 team deal with #Reds, get INF Gavin Lux and RHP Chris Clark. Reds get LH Brock Burke.

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) January 16, 2026

Lux hit .269/.350/.374 with five home runs, 53 RBI in 140 games last season. That translated to an average 102 wRC+ and a .322 wOBA. His .724 OPS isn’t half-bad, and he brings some postseason experience to a roster that skews towards the younger side. He drew walks at a career-high 11.1% clip, and his 22.7% strikeout rate is nearly identical to the MLB average. He’s a masher of right-handed pitching. Lux spent the majority of his time at designated hitter last season, and most of his defensive work in left field. The Rays believe that Lux has solid defensive chops even though he missed time with a torn ACL a few years ago.

The Gavin Lux Effect on the Rays Lineup

The addition of Lux meant waving goodbye to Lowe. With that, the Rays went from employing two Lowes last season to carrying none at all. Lowe really struggled with injuries during his tenure with the Rays. It’s such a shame because fans had high hopes after a 2023 season in which he hit .292/.335/.500 with a 128 OPS+. Lowe then struggled through injuries and only played a combined 214 games during the next two seasons. The Rays’ crowded outfield meant that someone was going to need to be sent packing. Hopefully, a change of scenery in Anaheim can help Lowe unlock his full potential.

The outfield now features Cedric Mullins prominently in center field and Chandler Simpson patrolling the grass somewhere. The departure of Lowe in right field opens up a massive competition for playing time in spring training and the regular season. Overall, the Rays improved their defense and beefed up the lineup.

The Last Word

The Rays appear to have solidified the second base position in 2026. Manager Kevin Cash will have plenty of options in constructing his lineup through platoons and matchups. The catching position stands as a position that could use an upgrade over Hunter Feduccia and Nick Fortes. Carson Williams needs seasoning at Triple-A, so that wouldn’t be a catastrophe by any means. Of course, it’s possible the Rays make another addition to give themselves even more depth.

Let’s have some fun projecting a Rays lineup featuring Lux (based on the current alignment):