The Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Angels, and Cincinnati Reds recently finalized a three-team trade centered around utility player Gavin Lux. This offseason deal sends outfielder Josh Lowe from Tampa Bay to the Angels, with the Rays acquiring Lux from Cincinnati alongside minor league pitcher Chris Clark from Los Angeles. The Reds, in return, receive left-handed reliever Brock Burke from the Angels. Although the teams have yet to officially announce the trade, the exchange addresses roster needs for all parties before the 2026 MLB season.
Josh Lowe Moves to the Angels to Fill Outfield Opening
Josh Lowe’s switch to the Angels marks the second transaction involving an everyday outfielder for Los Angeles this winter. Lowe arrives as a replacement for Taylor Ward, who was traded to Baltimore in exchange for Grayson Rodriguez. Tampa Bay, originally coming into the offseason with both Lowes—Josh and Brandon—now departed, positions itself without either brother by 2026. Lowe, a former promising figure in Tampa Bay’s lineup, is set to take his place alongside Jo Adell and Jorge Soler in the Angels’ outfield, where Mike Trout is expected to focus more on designated hitter duties.
Lowe showed great promise with a standout 20-home run, 30-stolen base season in 2023, accumulating a 135 weighted runs created plus (wRC+) as a regular. However, injuries affected his play over the past two years, delaying his starts and reducing his effectiveness. In 2024, oblique and hamstring problems interrupted his season multiple times, culminating in a disappointing 79 wRC+ and a .220/.283/.366 batting line in 2025, highlighted by a marked slump in his final month with Tampa Bay.
Offensively, Lowe struggles notably against left-handed pitching, holding a .504 OPS and a 33% strikeout rate in such matchups. Tampa Bay’s strategy often shielded him from lefties for this reason. With his new role in Los Angeles, Lowe might face regular at-bats without a platoon partner, which presents both opportunity and challenge for the right-handed hitter. Defensively, while mostly playing right field, Lowe has limited experience in center and could stretch to cover that position due to the Angels’ lack of depth until top prospect Nelson Rada arrives.
Rays Add Gavin Lux to Address Second Base and Outfield Needs
The Rays, having lost Brandon Lowe earlier in the offseason, turned to Gavin Lux to fill a key role in their infield and potentially the outfield. Lux joins Tampa Bay after spending one season with the Reds, where he posted league-average offensive numbers with a .269 batting average and a .350 on-base percentage over 503 plate appearances. Primarily used in left field and across multiple infield positions, Lux’s versatility stands out despite concerns about his defensive consistency and arm accuracy.
While Lux brings a reliable on-base skill set to Tampa Bay, power has not been his strength, with no season featuring more than 10 home runs in his MLB tenure. His defensive role has fluctuated substantially due to uneven performance and metrics that show struggles both in the corner outfield and infield positions. The Rays are expected to deploy him as a near-everyday player at second base, possibly utilizing platoon adjustments to limit his exposure to left-handed pitchers. He may also see occasional time in the outfield to replace the departed Josh Lowe’s left-handed bat in a still-uncertain group.
Lux, entering his age-28 season, will be a one-year addition for Tampa Bay before reaching free agency next winter, providing the team with a short-term solution at a crucial middling position.
Reds Acquire Brock Burke to Strengthen Left-Handed Bullpen
In exchange for Lux, the Cincinnati Reds received lefty reliever Brock Burke from the Angels. Burke, a former Rays draftee, had a strong stint with Los Angeles, pitching to a 3.40 ERA in 90 appearances and logging a career-high 69 games in the 2024 season. At 29, Burke is in the final year of his arbitration eligibility and will hit free agency next season.
Since transitioning from a starting role with the Rangers to a bullpen position with the Angels, Burke increased his fastball velocity from 94-95 mph to averaging 96 mph. Additionally, he raised his usage of a slider and recorded a career-best 30.5% strikeout rate in 2024. Although his strikeout rate dipped in 2025, he compensated with an impressive 53.3% ground-ball rate, establishing himself as a reliable middle-inning arm rather than a situational specialist. Manager Terry Francona can expect stable contributions from Burke, who does not show significant platoon splits.
The Reds, having lost primary lefty Taylor Rogers at the trade deadline, now add Burke along with Caleb Ferguson and Sam Moll to their veteran left-handed relief corps for the upcoming season.
Chris Clark Joins Rays as a Developing Pitching Prospect
Included in the trade is minor league pitcher Chris Clark, a 24-year-old righty whom the Rays acquired from the Angels. Clark, a fifth-round pick in 2023, posted a 4.73 ERA over 28 minor league outings last season, mostly at Double-A, where he made only one start. Known for a developing changeup and loose arm motion, Clark’s primary pitches include a sinker and sweeper, combined with his changeup to enhance his arsenal.
Recognized by FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen as a prospect with promising secondary offerings, Clark is expected to return to Double-A to begin the 2026 season as he continues development. His progression will be monitored closely as Tampa Bay looks to build future pitching depth.
Significance and Outlook of the Multi-Team Deal
This three-team trade illustrates a strategic reshuffling by the Rays, Angels, and Reds during a tense offseason focused on addressing immediate roster gaps and controlling payroll flexibility. The Angels receive a younger, athletic outfielder in Josh Lowe to complement their existing outfield pieces after losing Taylor Ward. The Rays replace a key middle infielder by adding the versatile Gavin Lux, while also gaining pitching prospect Chris Clark to bolster their minor league ranks.
For the Reds, securing left-handed reliever Brock Burke aims to stabilize a bullpen unit in transition following Taylor Rogers’s departure. The inclusion of three veteran southpaws in their relief corps signals Cincinnati’s intent to strengthen late-inning matchups for 2026.
Each team improves areas of need, but questions linger concerning defensive fit and offensive production, especially given Lowe’s recent injury history and Lux’s positional challenges. How these players perform and mesh with their new teams will significantly influence rotations, lineup balance, and overall competitive prospects moving forward.
Three-way trade news: Tampa Bay, Cincinnati and the Los Angeles Angels are in agreement on a deal that will send outfielder Josh Lowe to the Angels, infielder Gavin Lux and right-hander Chris Clark to the Rays and left-handed reliever Brock Burke to the Reds, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 16, 2026
