The Los Angeles Dodgers are once again being hailed as “front-office geniuses” after the Gavin Lux trade—originally viewed as a salary-clearing necessity—has transformed into a legendary asset grab. While Lux is fighting for playing time in Cincinnati, the return piece, Mike Sirota, has exploded into one of the most feared prospects in professional baseball.
The trade, finalized on January 6, 2025, sent the former top prospect Lux to the Reds in exchange for Sirota and the No. 37 overall pick in the 2025 Draft. At the time, critics questioned trading an MLB-proven middle infielder for a 3rd-round pick, but Andrew Friedman’s vision has proven prophetic.
The Rise of “My My My Sirota”
Sirota, the grand-nephew of Hall of Fame pitcher Whitey Ford, didn’t just meet expectations in 2025—he shattered them. After being drafted by the Reds out of Northeastern University, he never played a game for Cincinnati before the trade. Once he put on the Dodgers blue, the results were staggering:
The Launch: He started at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga, slashing a monstrous .354/.443/.687 with seven home runs in just 24 games.
The Promotion: Moving to High-A Great Lakes, he maintained an OPS over 1.000, finishing his season with a combined 13 home runs and 54 RBIs in just 59 games.
The Rankings: Sirota rocketed from unranked to the No. 63 overall prospect in MLB by September, currently sitting as the No. 5 prospect in the loaded Dodgers system.
A “Masterstroke” Comparison
While Gavin Lux finished 2025 as a part-time designated hitter for the Reds with a modest .251 average, the Dodgers used the draft pick acquired in the deal to select standout outfielder Charles Davalan. By “cashing in” Lux, the Dodgers effectively traded a platoon player for a future All-Star outfielder and another high-ceiling draft asset.
“We knew he was talented,” said Dodgers director of player development Will Rhymes, “but his intensity toward his craft gives us confidence he’ll dominate all the way to Los Angeles.”
Though a knee injury ended Sirota’s 2025 season prematurely in July, he is fully cleared for Spring Training 2026. With an ETA of 2027, the “Sirota Steal” is already being called the best trade of the Friedman era, proving that even when the Dodgers seem to be “just shopping,” they are actually building a dynasty that never sleeps.
