Red Sox, Lugo Cut Ties

     The old saying, "hindsight is 20-20" rings true when it comes to the ex underachieving Red Sox short stop.  On December 6, 2006, the Red Sox signed 31 year old Julio Lugo to a four year, $36M deal.   If only Theo knew then what he knows now.  In a two and a half year tenure plagued by inconsistency and injuries, Lugo struggled defensively, as was expected, and offensively, which came as a shock.  Lugo learned the hard way that Boston is not the place to under achieve.

     2007 was a very important year for not only Lugo, but for the Red Sox organization.  They were coming off a season in which they failed to make the playoffs, and had alot to prove.  All Red Sox fans know that they took care of business, winning their seventh world series. 

Lugo would have his best year in a Sox uniform, playing in 147 games, driving in 73, hitting .237, and had a fielding percentage of .968.  Although they weren't the stats Theo and the Red Sox were expecting, hopes were still high that they signed the Lugo of 2004-2005. 

     2008 didn't get any better.  He ended up only playing in 82 games, hitting .268, and making 16 errors.  His season was cut short by Quadricept injury that put him on the 15-day DL.  By August he was transferred to the 60-day DL.  This opened up the door for his future replacement, Jed Lowrie. 

Lowrie ended up playing in 81 games and hit .258.  However, the big difference was his glove.  Lowrie did not make an error at short in 2008. 

     That brings us to the present.  2009 was a make or break year for Lugo.  He and Lowrie were supposed to battle for the starting short stop position in Spring Training.  However, Lugo had knee surgery on March 27th.  That would have secured the job for Lowrie if it wasn't for a wrist injury of his own.

      Lugo would come back, and began to hit again.  He ended up hitting .284 in 37 games.  However, with the resurgence of Nick Green and the recalling of Lowrie and Mike Lowell, Lugo found himself being the odd man out.

     Lugo was designated for assignment on July 17th.  They then had to either trade him or release him.  Earlier today it was announced that the Red Sox traded Lugo to the Cardinals for 1B/OF Chris Duncan. 

     It was a frustrating tenure for Lugo, but it wasn't all bad.  First, the Sox did win their seventh World Series.  Plus, they had the rookie of the year in 2007 and the MVP in 2008 in Dustin Pedroia.   Finally, they are in the running for another playoff birth and potentially another World Series ring.  I wish the best for Lugo in St. Louis.