Who Won the Trade Made in the Shadow of the Kyle Tucker News?

Jeff Passan broke the biggest news of the offseason Thursday night, reporting that Kyle Tucker will join the defending World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers. As the baseball world yelled into the ether in what felt like a cry for help, Passan reported a trade.

The Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Angels, and Cincinnati Reds reportedly agreed to a three-team deal sending Josh Lowe to the Angels, Gavin Lux and Chris Clark to the Rays, and Brock Burke to the Reds.

A deal that might slip through the cracks of your timeline, but comes with plenty of intrigue.

Each of these players has their flaws that ultimately limit their value.

While it’s always hard to say who “wins” a three-way trade, each of these teams makes out with something that helps them in 2026 while also shedding excess.

The Tampa Bay Rays Side

The Rays are no strangers to trades that come out of left field. In fact, they are known for some bizarre trades but have a reputation that forces few to question their motives.

This winter, Tampa has started to reshape its outfield, adding Cedric Mullins, Jake Fraley, Justyn-Henry Malloy, and Jacob Melton.

Josh Lowe, a lefty platoon bat, apparently was not a priority.

Gavin Lux will immediately fill the void at second, left in the other Lowe trade. The Rays add a lefty bat that helps fill a potential leadoff spot, gives them a great OBP, and is a high-floor player. On an expiring $5.5 million deal, Lux is a cheaper option without a long-term commitment.

Now, just to be clear, Lux is a very limited player. He doesn’t bring any power or defensive value, and sits against lefties. That’s not to say he’s a bad player, but don’t get caught up in how many positions he played last season. You won’t want to see him anywhere other than second or DH.

Chris Clark was a fifth-round selection back in 2023 out of Harvard. Comes with a heavy sinker and sweeper that lead to a 4.73 ERA, 4.33 FIP, and 153 strikeouts across 144.1 innings.

I would think the Rays view him as more than just a throw-in and probably have a pretty quick plan for Clark. He will be Rule 5 eligible this winter, making 2026 a big year for his evaluation.

The Reds Side

Cincinnati added lefty Caleb Ferguson to their bullpen earlier this winter, but still was rather thin on lefties, as I wrote about this week. Once the free agent market started to get thin, a trade looked like the most likely scenario, and the Reds found a partner and shed a bit of salary along the way.

Burke is going to give you quality innings with more control over the strikeout profile. He’s not the type of lefty that you have to reserve only for lefties, either. He’s coming off a 3.36 ERA, 3.16 FIP season with the Angels, where he also posted a 50.6% groundball rate.

I like this move for Cincinnati. Not only was adding a lefty a must, but getting Lux off the roster felt necessary. It’s tough to roster a player without power, defensive value, or the ability to face a lefty.

A good hitter that just didn’t fit the Reds roster.

Swapping his $5.5 million contract for Burke’s $2.2 million frees up some money, and every penny makes a difference in the eyes of Reds ownership. Even if Burke was a higher number than Lux, I could consider this a win for the Reds, considering their needs and roster makeup.

The Angels Side

I have to give the Angeles some credit. They have been known more for head-scratching moves, but this offseason, they have started to act like a normal team.

Sure, only having 37-year-old Drew Pomeranz as a lefty option out of the bullpen is a bad idea, but they have time to fix that problem. Easier to find a lefty than an outfielder with Lowe’s upside.

Like Lux, Lowe comes with a drastic platoon tag. The 28-year-old lefty has always had a mix of power and speed, but stringing together enough healthy stints to show his potential has been a problem.

I think there’s 20/20 potential if Lowe can find a way to improve his swing decisions and pitch recognition.

Perhaps its greatest value will be filling the massive need in center field. The Angels tried Jo Adell out there, and it went about as well as you would expect. Although Bryce Teodosio is a great defender, Lowe’s offensive upside is much greater.

I’m not entirely sure what to make of Josh Lowe as a complete player, but he’s only two seasons removed from a 20-home run, 30-stolen base, 130 wRC+-season. Getting a flier on a player of that talent is easily worth a reliever without a future in Los Angeles.

Final Thoughts

The more I think about it, the more I like this trade for all teams. The Reds clear a roster spot while filling another, the Angels add another intriguing bounce-back candidate, and the Rays find a second baseman and an interesting arm.

If I had to question one team, it would be the Rays. I know, I know, a baseball faux pas. The need for a second baseman was obvious, but Lux on an expiring deal doesn’t feel like the best option with what you gave up. Maybe I’m valuing Lowe too much.

The Angels continue to shed their past of strange veteran signings. Instead, they have pivoted toward young players who need a second chance. You know, a change of scenery.

Vaughn Grissom, Josh Lowe, Grayson Rodriguez, and Alek Manoah, to a lesser extent. The exact way they should be treating 2026.