Lugo not playing for Rays ...

With trade rumors circulating and the July 31 deadline for nonwaiver deals fast approaching, shortstop Julio Lugo was not in the Devil Rays' lineup on Sunday.

Manager Joe Maddon said he was simply giving Lugo, who plays every day, the game off. And Lugo said he was fine and was available to play if needed. But since he hit two home runs in the fifth inning of Saturday's bizarre 13-12 victory - just the second shortstop to homer twice in the same inning in major-league history - the timing of his day off was, at the least curious.

The Blue Jays are considered the team most interested in Lugo, though the Mets and Red Sox are other possibilities. And more teams may express interest as the deadline nears.

Comments

[RICHIE RICARDO]

STAY OR TO GO? LUGO SHOWS TO BE EQUAL TO CC IN SOME CATEGORYS. THEY ARE TIED IN BB, LUGO HAS 3 MORE DB'S & 2 LESS HRS. PLUS HE MAY CATCH CC IN RUNS SCORED SOON. THEY SHOULD SIGN LUGO ..IF NOT GET A UTILITY [INF]WHO HITS BETTER THAN PEREZ & GET A STEADY PITCHER FOR HIM. NEW TOPIC: I CAN SEE MCLUNG & SALAS AS THE CLOSER COMBO FOR THE NEXT 5 YRS. !!!!!

[Jake Larsen]

Signing a 30 yr old to a 5 yr, 40 MIL deal would probably be the dumbest things that we possibly do. We'd basically be signing him for a 3rd of our payroll, which could be better used on pitching.I'm sorry to break it to you, but Lugo ain't better than buttered toast like many Rays fans make him out to be. If Upton were put into the leadoff spot, I'd guarantee that he'd put up Lugo-like stats or better over a full season. This season's stats for Lugo scream "Contract year" or "fluke", whichever suits you beeter. How does one go from a .749 OPS to a nearly .900 OPS? He's at the end of his "peak years"(27-30) and is basically playing towards his one guaranteed "big payday".Let's not forget that we'd probably get more than 1 player in return for Lugo and we need as many players for our future than a player that has already priced himself outside of St. Pete after this year.