Red Sox to DFA Julio Lugo

by Randy Booth on Jul 17, 2009 12:53 PM EDT in News Comment 48 comments

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Red Sox will designate Julio Lugo for assignment later today:

Julio Lugo's tenure in Boston is over.

The Red Sox will designate the shortstop for assignment on Friday, a move that will likely lead to his release, according to a major-league source.

The Red Sox will have 10 days to trade Lugo once the roster move is official. If they are unable to deal him, Lugo will be released.

The move comes a day after one source told FOXSports.com that the Red Sox were "desperately" trying to trade Lugo. Another source said the team recognized Lugo as a "sunk cost" and was not expecting much in return for him.

I guess this really isn't a surprise at all. Everyone was calling for it and now it's happened. It's sad to see Lugo's career in Boston end this way, but the bottom line is that he did not produce. Looks like Jed Lowrie and Nick Green will be our shortstops for the rest of the 2009 season.

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It is like being liberated from bondage.

Once Lugo is gone, a new, somewhat clearer future will likely emerge.

by NG on Jul 17, 2009 1:16 PM EDT reply actions

Cue the duck boats.

by BOSPORTS on Jul 17, 2009 1:21 PM EDT reply actions

Lugo will play for another team

just not in 10 days time. He will be picked up after he clears waivers.. There are a couple of team that may want him.

After the sport writers were writing about how desperate the Sox were in dumping Lugo, it would be silly to have any serious negotiations for Lugo, and just wait for him to clear waivers.

by superferret on Jul 17, 2009 1:32 PM EDT reply actions

c'est la vie

Now how does that work – if someone else picks him up – who pays for his services?

by www.SoxTherapy.Net on Jul 17, 2009 1:32 PM EDT reply actions

c'est la vie

Or Lack There OF~!

by www.SoxTherapy.Net on Jul 17, 2009 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions

We still have to pay off his contract, IIRC.

They can sign him for the league minimum if they want.

@bs_uf15bosox9be:OverTheMonster-ALLERGEN WARNING:May contain PB.

by bdalebs on Jul 17, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions

BTW, once Lugo is gone,

is my Red Sox Lugo shirt worth more or less??

by NG on Jul 17, 2009 1:34 PM EDT reply actions

Value may vary..

The irony value is huge.

The value of the Jersey goes up if the Sox puts up future awful teams and people want to wear some of Theo’s worst signings as a way to chase him out of town.

Right now, the value of the Jersey is not much. Lugo does have a world series ring, he did have some key hits in the 2007 season and the 2007 ALCS. He also was an awful shortstop. The guy glovework was really poor. He had a really tough time in Boston. An awful 2007 season, injured and then sidelined most of 2008 and pretty much benched most of 2009.

He would had been moved, if he didn’t signed a $36 million dollar contract. He will be a utility player for a year or two more before he retires.

by superferret on Jul 17, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

NG, just strip of the name from it.

You can pass it off as an Oil Can shirt.

@bs_uf15bosox9be:OverTheMonster-ALLERGEN WARNING:May contain PB.

by bdalebs on Jul 17, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions

well..

it depends… itl b worth less than before, but still probably worth more than lugo himself.

by tbs1334 on Jul 17, 2009 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Finally

Why did the red sox sign him in the first place? O well. I bet once he gets released the Padres or cubs will sign him

I Have Spoken.

by The_Fan on Jul 17, 2009 1:39 PM EDT reply actions

Cubs maybe a factor..

They need hitting. He would a nightmare on that surface they called an infield at Wrigley, which is allegedly one of the worst fields in MLB.

I am still gunning for the Mariners.

by superferret on Jul 17, 2009 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Why would they sign him?

They JUST got rid of another horrible SS in Yuni.

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by bdalebs on Jul 17, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions

The Mariners need hitting..

They could use Lugo as a utility player. Cedeno is hitting really bad right now.
It is funny, after getting rid of Bavasi as GM the Mariners have at least a decent club, and the Sox old buddy Aardsma is doing pretty well for a closer.

by superferret on Jul 17, 2009 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions

True.

I guess I want to see them lose so that Branyan becomes available.

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by bdalebs on Jul 17, 2009 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions

The trade that wrecked the Mariners..

was the Erik Bedard trade. The Mariners pretty much gave up their top prospects in their farm system for Bedard. Adam Jones should be an all star for the Mariners than the Orioles at this moment. One reason the Mariners had a such an awful batting line up last year, they no players to replace the Jose Vidros of the world. Ironically the person who shined after he left the Mariners was Raul Ibanez, and I think because he has protection in a good lineup, rather than having the two worst hitters in baseball in the four spot, Jose Vidro and Richie Sexson.

by superferret on Jul 17, 2009 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions

So he clears waviers

And who pays for him if they pick him up. Do they have to assume the money the Socks still own him/

by www.SoxTherapy.Net on Jul 17, 2009 1:59 PM EDT reply actions

He gets paid the minimum after clearing waivers with the Sox eating the balance.

And then again next year as well. No matter what, Lugo makes 9M this year and next.

Best case scenario for the Sox – A trade develops and the Sox get the other team to pay Lugo more than the league minimum so we don’t have to pay him quite as much.

by dsharp on Jul 17, 2009 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions

How the heck did Lugo get signed for so much for so long???????

Was he ever that much of a potential star in any part of the game?

Why not give him 12 million but for only one year, or maybe 10 million for 2 years. Was Epatein just too green 4 years ago, or did someone in Lugo’s family make the Sox and offer thay could not refuse? It seems so out of context for anything else the front office has done in the last 5 years.

by NG on Jul 17, 2009 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Theo wanted to lock up a position that has been an annual problem..

The Sox’s FO had the Nomah headache, in which Nomah wanted Derek Jeter’s salary, and was offered close to a 4 year $60 million deal, in which he turned down, (yeah , yeah it was around the time of the A-Rod flirtation)

The Sox didn’t want Orlando Cabrera, given everyone on this board has heard rumors about the guy, even though he played a good Shortstop, but not the greatest hitter. I guess Theo wanted a SS with a higher OBP, and Rent-a-wreck was on the market.

We all know what happened to Rent-a-wreck. The Sox ate most of his salary to get trade him, We got Alex Gonzalez who had half the errors as Renteria did in 2005. However, he was signed for one year, and in some ways the Sox FO missed a disaster because Gonzalez missed all of 2008 with a knee injury.

I think the Sox FO wanted a Shortstop with a higher OBP than a a good UZR.

Lugo was signed for so much (4 year/$36 million), because he was going to be the lead off hitter and table setter for the Sox batting lineup.

I think the saving grace for JD Drew, is that he is a decent outfielder, playing the craziest RFs in baseball. I don’t think he has lost a ball from the sun in Fenway yet during day games which is no small feat.

Hypothetically, if the Sox tried to trade Drew, they would had just have as a difficult of a time as trading Lugo, mainly they would have to eat the majority of his contract, even though there would be more takers for Drew.

by superferret on Jul 17, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Theo liked him from all the times he played well for Tampa.

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by bdalebs on Jul 17, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions

There are a couple factors...

DFA’ing Lugo means that if any team has an interest in Lugo, they need to see what other teams out there are also interested, and get an inside edge. Some teams may claim Lugo before he is put on waivers. , even though they would have to give up draft picks, but they have a jump in getting Lugo before he is on waivers, and then teams with worse records like let’s say the Nationals have a priority in picking him up, than a team with a better record like the Cubs or the Mariners.

Lugo probably can’t go to the minor leagues without his consent, because he has been in MLB for more than five years..

What is probably going to happened is that Lugo will be clear of waivers after the 10 days that DFA procedure goes by, One or two teams may be interested, and signed him for the MLB minimum, the Sox can deduct the $350k out of the $18 million they owed him for 2009 and if he is signed again for 2010.

by superferret on Jul 17, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

.......

talk about an admission of failure.

by www.SoxTherapy.Net on Jul 17, 2009 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions

There are a couple of angles...

Lugo probably can’t go to the minor leagues without his consent, because he has been in MLB for more than five years..

by superferret on Jul 17, 2009 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Burn in hell Lugo

I wish you a slow painfull burning.
I wish all the worst thing that could happen to a human being (if you are one) for all the anger and the frustrations you gave you worthless wifebeater F**k.

"It's designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything is new again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops, and leaves you to face the fall alone". A. Bartlett Giamatti

by radiohix on Jul 17, 2009 2:43 PM EDT reply actions

+1 (just not quite as angry)

Randy said this was sad that Lugo’s career in Boston ended this way. I think not. The career was the sad part as well as the money involved. Lugo. Goodbye and don’t look back. Stepping it up a level: GET THE F#*%K OUT!

"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko

by sox-inda-south on Jul 17, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions

He may be a bad shortstop..

But he acted like a professional, and he didn’t take his gripes public until the very end. He tried, and he did contributed to the 2007 World Series team. His 8th innning bunt against the Indians in Game 5 of the 2007 ALCS, helped put the game out of reach for the Indians. He still is pretty fast. He just failed miserably as a lead off hitter and as the key position for defense.

As much as I was critical of Lugo’s playing, he deserves a little sympathy, mainly he doesn’t probably have many years left playing major league baseball. I would say one or two more years. Yeah, Yeah he will make $9 million next year, but at least he didn’t pull a Milton Bradley, who has worn out the welcome mat in Cleveland, Los Angeles, Oakland and San Diego. Texas was a bit different.

by superferret on Jul 17, 2009 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Why the anger?

Guy was a class act as far as I could tell. At least he wasnt awful and a douchebag…

Eat his contract and be done with it…I am not buying into the domestic abuse allegations, though.

by ritz on Jul 17, 2009 3:48 PM EDT reply actions

fair enough

True, he wasn’t a douchbag, but I think he knew that if was, his personal safety may have been in jeopardy. I think he understood how ‘enthusiastic’ the fans are, and by keeping his mouth shut, he helped to diffuse some of the ire.

by MonsterShadow327 on Jul 19, 2009 2:08 AM EDT up reply actions

It's still possible he could be traded however...

….it’s unlikely. The Sox could work out a trade with a team, picking up the bulk of his salary in return for a fringe prospect. The advantage to that team is they wouldn’t have to compete with other teams and would have him at league minimum (or whatever the Sox paid) for the next season and a half. However, I suspect that’s quite unlikely at this point.

For all the success the Sox have had under Esptein’s tenure, SS has been a sore spot.

by mg050369 on Jul 17, 2009 4:04 PM EDT reply actions

I can only see a team like the Cardinals or the Cubs...

Picking up Lugo before he clears waivers, and throwing in a prospect to the Sox and paying $700 to a millions of his salary than $350k. They may want to be the first in line in getting him. However, they would taking the risk of paying much more than betting that no one will pick him up after he clears waivers.

by superferret on Jul 17, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't see any other team swallowing $9 mil

For the weapon that is Julio Lugo. No other team wants to spend that money to hurt their team.

by MonsterShadow327 on Jul 19, 2009 2:10 AM EDT up reply actions

I like graphs:

http://www.overthemonster.com/2009/7/17/953014/full-size-so-basically-we-bought

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by bdalebs on Jul 17, 2009 4:09 PM EDT reply actions

More data...

Via Sky Kalkman’s Trade Value Calculator

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by bdalebs on Jul 17, 2009 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks for the graph...

It is interesting and I concur with the value and WAR

by superferret on Jul 17, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions

I used his 3 year average as of this year to project him.

I got an idea: Trade Lugo for Halladay + Wells. We’d be doing the Jays a favor, actually. :)

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by bdalebs on Jul 17, 2009 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions

I think the MFY and Jays should do a Judas(Damon) for Wells trade....

Wells’ contract is probably one of the worst in baseball. It is probably going to cost Riccardi his job as Jays’ GM. If the Jays were smart, they would do a straight up trade with Halladay as the bait to have a team like the MFY take Wells’ oppressive (I think there is five years and $105 million left of it) contract.

The MFY should be dangling Damon and Godzilla out there to get some relief help.

by superferret on Jul 17, 2009 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Check BtB.

Even with Halladay, Well’s contract is horrible for any potential suitors.

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by bdalebs on Jul 17, 2009 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions

FINALLY GONE

The Red sox never should have re-signed him when his production stopped. Trade would have been an option before,but now no one will pay his salary for nothing. BYE

by ncmotives on Jul 17, 2009 4:20 PM EDT reply actions

Re-signed?

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by bdalebs on Jul 17, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Lugo had an option year...

I have to look it up but I believe he had a team option year pick up after the contract expire after 2010.
Most of the time, option year clauses has some sort of payout if the team doesn’t pick up the option.

by superferret on Jul 17, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions

It is a vesting option with a combined 2400 PA’s in 2007-2010 or 600 PA’s in 2010. So no chance at that vesting, thank the lord.

"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw

by BTLove on Jul 17, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep.

I was asking what resigning ncmotives was referring to.

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by bdalebs on Jul 17, 2009 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah…ncmotives comment makes no sense. Didn’t read that before.

"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw

by BTLove on Jul 18, 2009 1:41 AM EDT up reply actions

Maybe he thinks all FA signings are called resignings?

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by bdalebs on Jul 18, 2009 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Via MLBTR:

Mets, Cards, Cubs interested

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by bdalebs on Jul 17, 2009 4:23 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks for the Mother’s day mircle Lugo.

Don’t let the door hit ya for every other game you played in a Sox uniform.

MODERATOR

by gizmosandy on Jul 17, 2009 7:05 PM EDT reply actions

The appropriately nicknamed 'Lugie'

Hock, P’TUI! —Don’t let the door hit ya where the Good Lord split ya! —Sorry, usually I’m more polite and collected on these web posts, but that guy just irritates me! All that money and time by my favorite team for all that mediocrity and suckage, it just rankles me! At least the management did the respectable thing, if they are going to pay him one way or the other(GRRRRR), at least get him out of a Red Sox uniform so that he can stop being our team’s albatross.

by MonsterShadow327 on Jul 19, 2009 2:04 AM EDT reply actions