Amidst all the craziness from the Kyle Tucker news, another Los Angeles team added an outfielder on January 15. The Angels acquired outfielder Josh Lowe as part of a three-team deal. Cincinnati received Brock Burke, while the Rays added Gavin Lux and a Minor League pitcher.

The Angels’ Return

• OF Josh Lowe (.220/.283/.266, 11 HR & 34 XBH over 108 GP)

The 2025 campaign was another injury-shortened one for Josh Lowe, who missed the first six weeks of the year with oblique discomfort. However, for the second straight year, Lowe posted a sub-.700 OPS and regressed statistically again.

His .284 wOBA ranked 220th out of the 242 players who had at least 350 plate appearances last season.

Back in 2023, Lowe was a borderline All-Star. The now-27-year-old hit 20 home runs, picked up a career-best 55 extra-base hits, and was a key piece of the Rays’ playoff team from that year.

However, Lowe has flaws. Namely, a propensity to expand the zone, as his 37.1% Chase% this past year ranked in the seventh percentile in the Majors. The swing isn’t long but he has trouble with fastballs, as his Whiff% was above 30% in 2024 and slightly below that (29.5%) in 2025.

Lowe has three years of team control remaining.

The Rays’ Return

• SP Chris Clark (4.73 ERA, 153 K, 47 BB over 144.2 IP (A, A+, & AA))
• INF/OF Gavin Lux (.269/.350/.374, five HR & 35 XBH over 503 PA)

For the second-straight January, Gavin Lux is moving once again. Last January, the Dodgers traded Lux to the Reds, a deal that gave their former top prospect a fresh start. It also gave the team the chance to acquire Mike Sirota, who had a fantastic 2025 after a tough junior season with Northeastern that affected his MLB Draft stock.

Lux, now 28 years of age, didn’t hit for much power at all last season. He put up a low 3.6% Barrel%, and his five home runs were the fewest Lux recorded in a full, 162-game season as a Major Leaguer. However, he doesn’t chase much and posted an above-average 11.1% BB% with the Reds last season.

After spending most of his career as an infielder, Lux drew 54 starts in left last season. He sparingly played in the infield and actually played more games as a DH than in any other slot. His arm, a concern as a Dodger, played up in the outfield, as his average throw ranked above the MLB 50th percentile. However, he sported a -6 OAA in left.

The other piece in this deal is Chris Clark, a 24-year-old right-hander who was the Angels‘ fifth-round pick back in 2023.

Clark didn’t miss a ton of bats in his second season with the Inland Empire 66ers, his second season in Low-A. He posted a 26.7% Whiff% down in the California League, although he did flash a well-defined, sharp sweeper to go along with a fastball and changeup.

He was promoted back to High-A in August and pitched relatively well. The Whiff% (29.5%) ticked up, as he struck out 39 batters over 37.2 IP with Tri-City. Clark ended 2025 with six strikeouts over four innings with Double-A Rocket City to end the year.

The Reds’ Return

• RP Brock Burke (3.36 ERA, 52 K over 61.2 IP)

After a disastrous run with the Rangers in 2024, Brock Burke became a very reliable weapon out of the bullpen once more. This time, with the Angels.

Burke posted a high 29.1% Whiff% last season and limited well-hit contact. He’s a four-pitch left-handed pitcher who can gas it up to 95-96 MPH with regularity via the four-seam and two-seam. Additionally, Burke will use a changeup and slider.

High groundball pitcher. That wasn’t always the case with Burke but it has been in each of the last two seasons. His 46.3% GB% in 2025 would have ranked as among the league’s best had Burke pitched enough.

Analysis

This certainly was not the most impactful move made on January 15. However, it is one that gives all three teams a different look.

We’ll start with the Reds, who have been keen on adding to the bullpen. Cincinnati previously brought in Caleb Ferguson and Pierce Johnson. Now, the Reds bring in a groundball pitcher in Burke, who is a good matchup option. He only surrended two home runs over 24 innings against left-handed hitters, which will matter heading into 2026.

The Angels bring in Lowe, a toolsy outfielder, albeit one who has not produced the way he did in the past. Lowe does give the Angels a left-handed hitter, something Los Angeles does not have a lot of. Mike Trout, Zach Neto, Christian Moore, Logan O’Hoppe, Jo Adell, and Jorge Soler are all right-handed hitters.

Lowe can slot in to try to replace the power left behind via the Taylor Ward trade.

As for the Rays, Tampa Bay gets a project pitcher who put up good numbers in A-ball last season, plus a utilityman in Lux. The Rays could use Lux in several ways, including as a potential option to replace Brandon Lowe.

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