Angels, Rays, and Reds complete a three-team trade; Los Angeles Angels bolster outfield with Josh Lowe

As reported by MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, the Los Angeles Angels upgraded their outfield by obtaining Josh Lowe from the Tampa Bay Rays through a three-team trade today. In this deal, the Angels sent left-handed pitcher Brock Burke to the Cincinnati Reds, the Rays received infielder Gavin Lux from the Reds, and the Rays also acquired minor league right-handed pitcher Chris Clark from the Angels. The teams have yet to officially confirm the trade.

Trade details

Angels receive: Outfielder Josh Lowe

Reds receive: Left-handed pitcher Brock Burke

Rays receive: Infielder Gavin Lux, minor league right-handed pitcher Chris Clark

Josh Lowe, who will turn 28 in February, fits the Angels’ need for a left-handed hitting outfielder. However, his exact outfield position with the team remains uncertain. The Angels clearly require a center fielder, and although Lowe primarily plays right field, he also has experience defending center and left field.

Whether the Angels decide to have him share center field duties with Bryce Teodosio or assign him elsewhere, Lowe will provide the team with much-needed right-handed hitting power. Over five major league seasons, his career batting average against right-handed pitchers is .266 with an OPS of .772; in contrast, he has hit just .181 with a .504 OPS against left-handed pitchers.

Lowe’s career highlight came in the 2023 season when he appeared in 135 games for the Rays, posting a .292 batting average, .835 OPS, 20 home runs, 33 doubles, 83 RBIs, and 32 stolen bases. However, he struggled to replicate that success over the past two seasons, largely due to injuries: in 2024, he was sidelined by oblique and hamstring issues; and last season, he suffered a right oblique strain in the opener, returning only on May 15. In 108 games that year, he managed a .220 average, .650 OPS, 11 homers, and 40 RBIs.

Left-hander Brock Burke, who recently avoided salary arbitration with the Angels by agreeing to a one-year, $2.325 million contract, was arguably the team’s best-performing lefty out of the bullpen last season. He pitched 61.2 innings over 69 appearances with a 3.36 ERA, striking out 52 batters while issuing 18 walks.

Selected by the Rays in the first round of the 2016 draft, Josh Lowe is in need of a rebound season and will have ample opportunity to showcase his skills with the Angels. The team may continue to seek outfield reinforcements before spring training begins.

This trade reshapes the Rays’ infield and outfield configuration. Previously, Josh Lowe was slated as the starting right fielder, but after trading Brandon Lowe to the Pittsburgh Pirates in an earlier three-team deal during the offseason, the team’s second base position has remained uncertain.

Now, Gavin Lux is the leading candidate to start at second base on Opening Day. Although versatile infielder Richie Palacios might provide competition, the Rays clearly intend for Lux to man second base. Baseball operations president Erik Neander had previously identified Palacios as the primary internal option for the position.

The outfield situation is more complicated. The Rays have signed veteran Cedric Mullins to patrol center field, while speedy Chandler Simpson is best suited for left field. With Josh Lowe gone, right field will likely be handled by another veteran acquisition, Jake Fraley, who could also split corner outfield duties with right-handed hitters Jonny DeLuca and Ryan Vilade.

Both Lux and Palacios have outfield defensive experience, and the Rays’ outfield depth also includes right-handed batters Justyn-Henry Malloy and recently acquired promising prospect Jacob Melton.

Drafted by the Dodgers in the first round of the 2016 draft, Gavin Lux made his major league debut in September 2019 and was ranked as the second-best prospect in all of baseball by MLB Pipeline before the 2020 season. During his five seasons with the Dodgers, he mainly served as a utility player, posting a cumulative OPS+ of 96 before being traded to the Reds a year ago.

Last season, Lux played 140 games for the Reds, hitting .269/.350/.374 with 5 home runs, 28 doubles, and 53 RBIs, while recording a bWAR of -0.2. He primarily served as a designated hitter and left fielder but also gained experience playing second and third base.

Lux’s salary this season is $5.525 million, and he will become a free agent after the year ends. The Rays took on a higher salary in this trade—Josh Lowe earns $2.6 million this season, and his team control extends through the 2028 season.

Twenty-four-year-old starting pitcher Chris Clark was selected by the Angels in the fifth round of the 2023 draft out of Harvard University. Last year, he posted a combined 4.73 ERA across Single-A, High-A, and Double-A levels.