Red Sox parting ways with shortstop Lugo
BOSTON (Reuters) - Shortstop Julio Lugo is headed out of Boston with the Red Sox designating him for assignment, the player told local media on Friday.
"I gave it my best and unfortunately things didn't work out," Lugo told the Boston Herald in an item that ran on the Red Sox website (boston.redsox.mlb.com). "This is the best for both parties. I wanted it to work out but it didn't."
The Red Sox, who need to make room on their roster for the return from injury of shortstop Jed Lowrie and third baseman Mike Lowell, would have 10 days to either trade Lugo, release him or reassign him.
Lugo, signed as a free agent to a four-year, $36 million deal by Boston in December 2006, is owed about $13.5 million through the end of 2010.
The speedy, 33-year-old shortstop never became the offensive sparkplug the team envisioned and struggled defensively, battling through recent injuries.
After making 16 errors in the first half of the 2008 season, Lugo tore his left quad and missed the entire second half. During spring training before this season, he required surgery on his right knee.
In 37 games played this season, Lugo hit .284 with one homer and eight runs batted. He made seven errors in 97 total chances.
(Writing by Larry Fine in New York, Editing by Nigel Hunt)
