It's hard to believe that just four offseasons ago, Julio Lugo was the recipient of a contract that guaranteed him $36MM. Now he finds himself unemployed, telling Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes (link in Spanish) that he still hopes a team will take a chance on him this season…
"I want to play, I'm healthy," said Lugo. "The last thing you lose is hope … I keep working every day to be ready when someone remembers my name and believes I can help … I can help in many ways, while playing in different positions in the infield and outfield, run, pinch hit."
Lugo, 35, spent last season with the Orioles, hitting just .249/.298/.282 in 264 plate appearances. The Red Sox designated him for assignment in July 2009, trading him to the Cardinals for Chris Duncan a few days later. Boston paid Lugo almost $13MM over the last year-and-a-half to play in St. Louis and Baltimore.
A right-handed bat with some speed, Lugo has played every position but pitcher, catcher, and first base in his career. As far as we know, no team has expressed interest in him this winter, but all it takes is one Spring Training injury for that phone to ring.
Fifty_Five
Haha that’s a funny headline.
rickjimbo
nice.
wickedkevin
God, I do not miss him.
I am Urban Legend
funny how everyone talks about castillo and his 24 mil but noone says jack about Lugo and his 36 mil contract.
wickedkevin
Probably because that was two years ago… Or you can go ahead and beat a dead horse.
Matthew T
Pretty sure someone mentions it every time Lugo’s name comes up. It was a crappy contract, nobody thinks otherwise.
philly_red
He has a terrible attitude, he can’t hit, doesn’t walk, doesn’t have much range, and has always been overpaid, even at the league minimum. I’d be happy if I never saw this guy on TV again.
Rabbitov
Don’t know much about his attitude, but his defense and range isn’t all that bad for a 35 year old from what I’ve seen. If you are right about the attitude I certainly wouldn’t sign him, but he’s a pretty decent IF Util guy from what I’ve seen.
wickedkevin
Pretty sure he beat his wife. Right?
Fifty_Five
Allegedly.
User 4245925809
Hmmm. He can move 2 steps to his left and right defensively at SS. That’s about the same as somebody that just on the GG this past season is it not? Only difference is that Lugo can’t catch the balls within that 2 step range of his and the other guy can..
As for utility people, The Reds as is posted here have a couple of guys superior to Lugo, Bloomquist being one that may be without a job. Lopez ho just got a job (minor league deal) with the Rays is far better. Alfredo Amezaga another super utility type ith a minors deal in Colorodo and those guys can actually play multiple positions adequately.
Not intending to dice your post here, just pointing out that several others are out there and some signed with minor league deals even and signed late, so there had to be a reason Lugo was passed over.
,
Rabbitov
Yea I think everything you said is valid. I was just saying, absent the attitude thing, which I don’t know much about, you’d think he’d get a job somewhere eventually.
WhenMattStairsIsKing
Plus the dude got thrown off the Astros for beating up his wife. Screw him.
godzillacub
The Reds will sign him. It’d be CLASSIC Dusty Baker to lobby the GM to sign Lugo and then play him over a younger guy like Janish.
start_wearing_purple
Didn’t they already sign Rent-a-wreck for that role?
godzillacub
As a Cubs fan who lived through Dusty Baker, I assure you 1 is never enough. Heck, 2 isn’t enough (ex. a roster featuring Rey Ordonez, Neifi Perez, Ramon Martinez, AND Alex Gonzalez).
nepp
LOL…I am very surprised that he doesn’t have at least a minor-league invite somewhere.
optionn
So because he was an overpaid veteran in the past, nobody wants him? I don’t get it- he is worth taking a risk on even if he blocks a young guy that has shown nothing except potential.
ugen64
he’s 35, there’s not much upside left. it’s not the question of “taking a risk” – it’s simply that you can probably find a 25 year old career minor leaguer who will play as well as Lugo, and still be a part of the club’s future.
Mickey Koke
Could be a decent pick up for the Padres, if Kevin Frandsen continues to struggle in Spring Training. I still like Kev.
costumedanceguy
Boston fans boo him all the time. He was just that bad considering the money we made. Even the day we came to score 5 runs to win, it was because Lugo hit into an error. He was absolutely pitiful.
Gumby65
ONE Spring Training injury might produce a phonecall to Lugo from a GM to see what Lugo’s opinion is on any other free agents out there maybe.
BronxBoy6
too bad for Jose that Omar Minaya cant write checks anymore. He would have been signed in October for 2 years $6 mill if he had.
vtadave
Pretty easy to not act like a total prick when you’re unemployed I guess…
Wilsonl
Not a chance..
Guest 7122
Everytime the ball was hit to him you’d hold your breath. Routine grounders became troublesome and when he made the pick up he’d overthrow to first. Lugo stinks. Never the same after he left Tampa.