Red Sox sign Lugo

[jacksonianmarch]

figured I'd start a new thread as I cannot figure out how to change titles. The Red Sox and Julio Lugo have agreed on a 4 yr contract so says Steve Phillips. The particulars have not been laid out, but the offer to beat was the Mets offer of 4yrs 36milyet the sox were reluctant to go that high. The one thing the sox had over anyone was the open SS position.

[Cityofchampions33]

Gee, can't wait til it's on a single website so I can feel legitimtely excited

[Beckett95]

ESPN's Steve Phillips says he's hearing free agent Julio Lugo will join the Red Sox.

 

WFAN reported earlier Tuesday that Lugo had a four-year, $36 million contract from the Mets. The Red Sox weren't believed to want to go that high, but if they felt thet couldn't land a shortstop in a Manny Ramirez deal, they might have believed they didn't have much of a choice.

rotoworld

 

im really hoping he didnt get more than 9 million, maybe we could get him for 7-8 million because we're his number 1 choice

[TedWilliams101]

It hasn't confirmed that he signed, just suggesting that he will sign with the sox.

[jacksonianmarch]

ESPN News is reporting 4yrs 36 mil and it is a done deal.

[Cocos Disciples]

Red Sox closing in on free-agent SS Lugo

Ken Rosenthal / FOXSports.com

Posted: 2 minutes ago

The Red Sox, stalled in their efforts to trade left fielder Manny Ramirez, are closing in on their second major off-season acquisition, nearing agreement with free-agent shortstop Julio Lugo on a four-year, $36 million contract.

Earlier Tuesday, the Sox announced the signing of outfielder J.D. Drew to a five-year, $70 million deal. Their lineup will improve with the additions of Lugo and Drew — and again will be one of the most potent in the American League if the team keeps Ramirez.

MORE

[Cityofchampions33]

nice, now just trade for donnelly, get gagne and matsuzaka, and we're close to bein all set

[Beckett95]

Its official

 

ESPNews is reporting that the Red Sox and Julio Lugo have agreed to terms on a four-year, $36 million contract.

 

A very expensive day for Boston, and we're guessing that spending $106 million on a couple of non-superstars won't go over particularly well. However, Lugo, like Drew, is an underrated defender with quality on-base skills. If he plays like he did in 2005 and the first half of 2006, he's worth $9 million per year in this market. Still, like every other deal this winter, this is one year too long. The Red Sox can now put Dustin Pedroia at second base and leave him there. They also might be more open to trading Coco Crisp since they have another option at the top of the order.

[a700hitter]

nice' date=' now just trade for donnelly, get gagne and matsuzaka, and we're close to bein all set[/quote']It is shaping up like the FO is intent on building a powerhouse team.

[Beckett95]

It is shaping up like the FO is intent on building a powerhouse team.

 

yep, much better than last years team

[Beckett95]

Boston Herald is also saying he has signed

 

http://redsox.bostonherald.com/redSox/view.bg?articleid=170658

 

According to sources, Lugo’s deal is worth in the neighborhood of $35-36 million, an average of $8.5 million to $9 million per season. Lugo turned down offers from the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets to come to the Red Sox, largely because he wanted to play shortstop, his natural position in the major leagues.

[arbitrary]

So how is Lugo's defense?

[Beckett95]

i think he's a little underated defensively

 

Somewhere between Renteria and Gonzalez, probably a little more towards Renteria

[example1]

So how is Lugo's defense?

 

It is certainly SS average, if not slightly above. On a mediocre team his whole career (except last 6 months in LA) he has averaged 12 HR, 59 RBI and 24 SB. He's got good speed and should rest some concerns as far as guys being able to move from 1st to 3rd or from 2nd to the plate on a basehit.

 

I'm pretty psyched about this move. This guy is more of a role player than a guy like Renteria was (he was supposed to be a star). He should provide adequate defense, good speed and the ability to get some good XBHs.

 

The money is a lot but the money is a lot for everyone and the Sox knew they were going to have to spend.

 

This could be our lineup next year:

 

Lugo

Crisp

Ortiz

Manny

Drew

Youkilis

Lowell

Varitek

Pedroia

 

with

 

Schilling

Matsuzaka

Beckett

Papelbon

Wakefield

 

I think that is a solid, solid team. They do need to do some work on the bullpen, so a Manny trade wouldn't hurt if they can pull one off. But if he stays, and IF he plays, this lineup has the potential to be as good as '03s.

[jacksonianmarch]

.765 career high OPS 2 yrs ago. Looks like a guy who will likely hit .280, have an OBP of .350 and steal 20 bases if Francona lets him steal. Not a bad leadoff guy.

[example1]

i think he's a little underated defensively

 

Somewhere between Renteria and Gonzalez, probably a little more towards Renteria

 

So, somewhere between horrible and perfect, probably a little more towards horrible.

[Beckett95]

So' date=' somewhere between horrible and perfect, probably a little more towards horrible.[/quote']

 

ya, pretty much

[Ray10]

Wow I never thought the Sox would sign both guys on the same day. This is great news now the Sox need to focus on signing Eric Gagne or trading for another closer and signing Daisuke Matsukaza and this team will be an even bigger force next year. I would be scared if I was any team in the American League. The Sox could get alot more dangerous.

[Cityofchampions33]

Depending on if we sign Matty and who closes for us, we could be back from our short leave out of the playoffs.

[pudge]

This was just reported on nesn during sports desk.sorry i dont have all the details .Out of all the shortstops the redsox could have signed or kept in the last three years they end up with lugo .Im not happy to say the least.

[schillingouttheks]

There are already a couple threads.

[pudge]

sorry i just noticed it

[pudge]

It hasn't confirmed that he signed' date=' just suggesting that he will sign with the sox.[/quote']

Out of all the shortstops the redsox could have kept or signed in the last three years they end up with lugo:rolleyes: not good not good at all.

[example1]

Depending on if we sign Matty and who closes for us' date=' we could be back from our short leave out of the playoffs.[/quote']

 

I think that the Sox should be competitive either way. From what I've heard they're either going to have a tremendous offense (w/ manny) or a decent offense with tremendous, young pitching.

 

If they use Manny to fill holes in the 'pen then this team could be dominant as well. I think about teams like the 02 Angels, the '05 White Sox and '06 Tigers: they all had great starting pitching and, perhaps more importantly, a great bullpen.

 

Of course, I wouldn't trade manny solely for bullpen pitching but I think you could argue that young dominant pitching like Papelbon, Jenks, Zumaya etc., are hard to find. If you can get a guy like Broxton you've got to be tempted, if you can get the right other pieces. Especially for a team that looks at things such as leverage when determining how to use a bullpen.

 

A true "bull pen ace" (a pitcher who comes in in high 'leverege' situations from the 7th inning on) combined with an MLB average closer might be the way to go. Think about it: Mariano with Wettland; K-Rod with Percival; Zumaya with Jones.

 

I know that everybody wants to be the closer, but I bet in a few years they'll be valuing the bullpen ace much more highly. It's not about saves, its about leverege and improving the odds that a team in your position wins.

[jacksonianmarch]

they will be competitive even if they didnt make these moves. Thing is, the rotation is a major league ??? no matter what they do and leaning on them further because of a poor bullpen is a recipe for disaster.

[example1]

they will be competitive even if they didnt make these moves. Thing is' date=' the rotation is a major league ??? no matter what they do and leaning on them further because of a poor bullpen is a recipe for disaster.[/quote']

 

Side by side I want the Sox rotation over the yankees rotation 10 out of 10 times if we sign Matsuzaka.

[jacksonianmarch]

Side by side I want the Sox rotation over the yankees rotation 10 out of 10 times if we sign Matsuzaka.

 

no backup plan and 4 question marks. The only guy who isnt a ? is Wakefield who, if he stays healthy, will be .500 and have over 200IP.

[a700hitter]

no backup plan and 4 question marks. The only guy who isnt a ? is Wakefield who' date=' if he stays healthy, will be .500 and have over 200IP.[/quote']4 question marks? If you are counting Beckett and Schilling as question marks, that's absurd. How many question marks are in the Yankee rotation in your opinion? What do you mean when you are talking about a backup plan?

[jacksonianmarch]

4 question marks? If you are counting Beckett and Schilling as question marks' date=' that's absurd. How many question marks are in the Yankee rotation in your opinion? What do you mean when you are talking about a backup plan?[/quote']

 

Schilling faded down the stretch and broke down. Beckett finished his first full season in the majors last yr and he was horrible. How are those 2 not question marks?

 

The only non-???'s in the yankees rotation are Wang and Mussina. Wang will eat innings and will win a bunch of games. Mussina will not surpass 200IP but adjusted well to aging and should be effective for 6IP when he throws. Aside from that, who knows.

[example1]

That's one way to see it.

 

Or they have the guy who averaged the 5th highest game-score last year in the AL and who is still a tremendous competetor (Schilling); a guy who threw the most 95+ mph pitches out of anyone in baseball last season and who has all the potential to shut down any team on any given day (Beckett, 26); Japan's most famous pitcher for the last 7 years who possesses at least SIX plus pitches with great movement and a great understanding of how to work hitter--including international, japanese and MLB (Matsuzaka, 26); Last year's rookie of the year runner up who has more passion and grit in him than anyone on either team (Papelbon, 26); and a cagey veteran knuckleballer who can chew up innings and tends to pitch in crazy high-scoring games. A historic Yankee killer.

 

I'll hold on to them.

 

There's also that Lester guy, and that Bard, Buchholz and Bowden combination.

 

I'm pretty psyched about Red sox pitching this year.