Lugo gone, Bates to Pawtucket

Submitted by Kevin Thomas on Fri, 07/17/2009 - 17:44

The Boston Red Sox finally began the process of saying good-bye to Julio Lugo by designating him for assignment on Friday.

Boston also sent Aaron Bates back to Pawtucket. The moves allowed the Red Sox to activate third baseman Mike Lowell and recall Clay Buchholz from Pawtucket.

Lugo, 33, hit .284 for Boston. But his defense was a problem. It became worse after a knee injury limited his range even more. Lugo still has one more year left on his contract, which pays him $9-million per season.

Buchholz is expected to be with Boston for one game. He then will switch places with shortstop Jed Lowrie, with Lowrie coming to join the Red Sox.

Here is tonight’s lineup (courtesy of the Boston Globe). Jacoby Ellsbury has been scratched because of illness.

J.D. Drew, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
David Ortiz, DH,
Jason Bay, LF
Mike Lowell, 3B
Jason Varitek, C
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Nick Green, SS
(Clay Buchholz, P)

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Kevin covers baseball for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. He first reported on spring training games for the St. Petersburg Times in 1978. He wisely moved to Maine in 1994 and now writes about the Portland Sea Dogs and Boston Red Sox — when he's not coaching Little League baseball.

He is married to Nancy, and the couple recently completed their lineup card with the birth of their ninth child.

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