July 17, 2009 at 1:49 PM
Lugo designated for assignment to make room for Buchholz
Rob Bradford of WEEI.com is reporting that Boston shortstop Julio Lugo has been designated for assignment. The Red Sox now have ten days to trade or release Lugo, who is in the third year of the four-year, $36 million contract he signed prior to the 2007 season. If Lugo is released, the Red Sox would be responsible for the remainder of his $9 million salary this year, as well as for his $9 million salary for 2010, less the major league minimum salary should another team sign him. The wiry 33-year-old infielder had been hitting .284/.352/.367 with 1 home run and 8 RBI in 103 at-bats for Boston in 2009. A veteran of ten major league seasons, Lugo owns a career .271/.335/.390 line with 78 home runs and 439 RBI in 1186 games played for the Astros, Rays, Dodgers, and Red Sox.Lugo's spot on the 25-man roster will likely be taken by Pawtucket starter Clay Buchholz, who is scheduled to make his 2009 major league debut tonight when the Red Sox play the Toronto Blue Jays. SoxProspects.com's first-ranked prospect in the Red Sox organization prior to losing his major league rookie eligibility in 2008, Buchholz has been cruising through the International League in 2009, putting up a 7-2 record with a 2.36 ERA in 17 starts. He's racked up 89 strikeouts in 99 innings pitched, holding opposing hitters to just 6.5 hits per 9 innings. Buchholz is 31-14 with a 2.42 ERA in 91 career minor league appearances, striking out 506 in 443.1 innings. In his major league career, Buchholz has compiled a 5-10 record with a 5.56 ERA in 20 appearances.