Busy Red Sox Send Julio Lugo to Cardinals for Chris Duncan

The Red Sox, who traded for Adam LaRoche Wednesday morning, continued to be active in the trade market, sending Julio Lugo to the Cardinals in exchange for outfielder Chris Duncan and a player to be named later or cash considerations, FanHouse has confirmed.

Lugo and Duncan had fallen out of favor with their respective clubs recently, with the former being designated for assignment last week by Boston and the latter demoted to the minors hours before the deal.

Lugo, the far more handsomely paid of the two players, still has $13.5 million remaining on the four-year contract he signed with the Red Sox before the 2007 season, and the Boston Herald, which was one of the first outlets to break the story, is reporting that the Sox will pick up all of the money still owed to the infielder.

The acquisition of Lugo should allow St. Louis to shore up a murky middle-infield situation. Winter acquisition Khalil Greene, on the disabled list for the second time this season with social anxiety disorder, struggled mightily this year, leaving the bulk of the everyday duties to utilityman Brendan Ryan.

"We felt that Julio could help our club by improving our middle infield depth," said St. Louis general manager John Mozeliak said in a statement. "He gives us another right-handed bat and provides Tony with additional flexibility. We're optimistic that he will respond positively to a fresh start here in St. Louis."

The former Red Sox has had some problems defensively this year, but his .719 OPS in 2009 is 14 points higher than the American League average for shortstops.

Duncan, who is hitting .227 this season, is expected to report to Boston's Triple-A affiliate in Pawtucket initially, but the Red Sox could eventually use him in the big leagues as a bench bat against right-handed pitching. Of Duncan's 55 career home runs, 49 have come against right-handed opponents.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

7-22-2009 @ 9:21PM

Goldie said...

THANK YOU THEO !!!!!! Good luck to St. Louis!

7-23-2009 @ 12:10AM

Mark Lamoureux said...

Finally, Duncan is a liability. Have fun with him, keep him out of the outfield.

7-23-2009 @ 12:43AM

Ralph Garcia said...

Does anyone notice that the Red Sox are getting whiter? They got rid of Coco Crisp, Manny Ramirez, and now Lugo. Mike Lowell is a white Cuban born in Puerto Rico but his roots are British. Looks like Ramon Ramriez will be on his way out. Jacoby Ellsbury has a tan and he better watch out as he'll be dealt for a paler player. Folks this is why the Red Sox didn't win a world series for 86 years. Looks like Pig Papi will be the lone black player like in the mode of Jim Rice, Reggie Smith, Tommy Harper, Ellis Burks, Pumpsie Green, etc.

7-23-2009 @ 9:13AM

Red White & YOU said...

LOL I am in full agreement with your comment. But have you ever noticed that when the SUX are playing and they show faces in the crowd at Fenway, you will hardly EVER see a minority in the stands. It's pretty much the same way at Boston Garden too...They must hire the Cambridge Police Dept to sell tickets...SUX fans, hows it feel to be in 2nd place now?

7-23-2009 @ 2:26AM

Robin said...

You know what you can do with your racist comments Ralphy! What a waste of oxygen!

7-23-2009 @ 11:33AM

richcantwell109 said...

Truth Hurts...eh, Robin

7-23-2009 @ 3:18AM

mbanhagel said...

Wheww!!! We're finally rid of Lugo. When does Drew go?

7-23-2009 @ 3:19AM

Whewwww!!! Finally rid of Lugo. When does drew go?

7-23-2009 @ 8:18AM

jmaneuv011 said...

This trade actually makes a little sense in that they're getting a player with some kind of hitting potential for pretty much nothing in Lugo. I still don't like the LaRoche trade for them though

7-23-2009 @ 8:21AM

buford1 said...

Why does some meathead always bring up race?

I am sick of this race BS.

7-23-2009 @ 12:03PM

I just brought it up because the Booston Rag Sox got some strange players that really won't help them. I'm relieved that they didn't get Vernon Wells from the Blue Jays or Adrian Gonzalez of the Padres or Melvin Mora of the Orioles or Jermain Dye of the White Sox. They would have really improved their team. It's no secret that the Blue Jays,Padres, Orioles, White Sox are trying to dump salaries. Those four players are a whole lot better than Mark Kotsay, Chris Duncan, and Adam LaRoche. By the white, I'm white, part hispanic, part Italian, a former New Yorker, lifetime Yankee fan who now lives in Miami. I don't care what color the players are on my Yankees as long as they're great players, are good role models and can win. Duncan, LaRoche, Kotsay strike me as odd as they're poor fielders with limited range and no speed on the basepaths.

7-23-2009 @ 12:21PM

tonytiger18 said...

Race should not be an issue in sports, when compiling the neucleus of a team, only ability and productivity should matter.

The reason that the highest percentage of players are Hispanic is simple -- more countries in Latin America play baseball and it is a sport that poor kids can play with little cost. After baseball, there is soccer.

If you look at the world elite soccer players, the majority of the best players are from Soth America. Now Africa is emerging.

Race is sports selection of players is silly.
Although I am not a fan of the Red Sox, it would be ridiculous to state that they select players because of their skin instead of ability.
Epstein is a very keen judge of talent.

7-23-2009 @ 12:38PM

The Fighting Irish said...

New dork Stankees that try to buy there way to championships. Over rated, and finnaly, making first? lol. Hey I'm a New Yorker, and I'm a Boston Red Sox fan. Yes... "THE BOSTON RED SOX IS THE ONLY TEAM IN THE MLB THAT MATTERS"
new dork stankees got swept twice by the Red Sox.
It's early stankee fans so don't get too happy, and If it was not for the fighting Irish, you minority people of color, would not be in America. THAT"S THE BOTTOM LINE!

7-23-2009 @ 1:11PM

Hey Irish, you must be lay off that six pack before you make comments on baseball.

First of all, learn to spell. Secondly, Boston's South side is the most bigoted part of New England, perhaps you should relocate there for you will fit right in.

Thirdly, read about the contributions that minorities have made to this nation and how they have help make this nation what it is.

You appear to have no class, so a negative comment from you is actually a very good compliment.

7-24-2009 @ 10:53AM

There Great! Hey Tony... you talking to me? lol
Anyway... Us Irish fought for freedom of independence, and passed immigration for minority people. That's my point, so you can take your Tonytiger a** to North Korea, where animal brutality goes on. The only negative in this country, are people like you, thinking that every white person is racist against minority people.
My uncle Danny is pure Irish, he's from Boston's south side, and he fought, and died in Iraq for us to be free.
THIS IS BOSTON AMERICA YOU BETTER RECOGNIZE BOY!

7-24-2009 @ 11:13AM

Fighting Irish?

We should call Notre Dame University the fighting African Americans.

The first minorities to habitate AMERICA were Africans. You really should go easy on the six packs BOY.

Read a little and you will realize that the "US IRISH"contributed little in the Revolutionary war.
While your Uncle was a brave man defending our interests in Iraq, he wasn't the only one.Look at the names of those died and you will see many "MINORITY" names along with other nationalities.

The infusion of ideas and cultures from around the world is what makes America what it is. Embrace it instead of being a narrow minded individual.

7-24-2009 @ 9:59PM

richcantwell109 said...
Truth Hurts...eh, Robin

No, the truth doesn't hurt... Racist comments do hurt though and I have no use for individuals who choose to be that way.