Rays trade Lugo

The Devil Rays traded veteran SS Julio Lugo to the Dodgers minutes before the 4 pm deadline for two minor-leaguers, third base prospect Joel Guzman and outfielder Sergio Pedroza.

Lugo is the fourth veteran traded in the last five weeks.

The Rays had been trying to sign Lugo to a long-term deal.

The Rays have also called up prospect B.J. Upton and Ben Zobrist.

Comments

[Darrell]

Lugo to the Dodgers might be the only surprise here, since many thought he'd go to another AL club. Guzman is a great prospect; saw him earlier this year when he was up with the Dodgers.

[Patrick Duggan]

If/When Tampa Bay decided it could not re-sign/afford Lugo, the only logical choice was to trade him.

If Lugo were to leave as a free agent, the only compensation would be draft picks. Given players spend several years in the minor leagues and only a slim few advance to the majors, banking on draft picks is a highly speculative endeavour.

Prospects, such as Guzman, who have rapidly risen through a quality organization (such as the Dodgers) and have been recognized by publications such as Baseball America have a much more stable and predictable path to the major leagues.

No one likes trading Lugo, a player that has become a fan favorite and staple of the organization. However, the ecomomics of baseball mean teams out of contention from small markets must make tough decisions on players like Lugo they no longer possess salary control over.

By trading Lugo, the Rays acquired quality prospects-more known commodities- than 18 year old draft picks or college players usinmg aluminum bats.

[FL]

More of the same...salary dump for prospects...when does it end...when do we actually have a line up we'll grow with?? Does anyone think next season will be better without him?? We are looking at more basement finishes....new owners..same result. I'd gladly pay for parking if you'd pay for some players...

[Mike]

Way to punish Upton for lashing out at the team. I don't care how much we gave him via bonus...he was hitting .269 with 33 freakin' errors. Why didn't we bring up Witt from Durham. He was hitting .290 with 30 jacks. It's just more of the same for this freakin' club. More prospects. Great.

[TonyC]

Lugo is another salary dump. PERIOD. Rays management has no inclination to field a winning team any time this decade unless its just through pure dumb luck. They should copyright the term "prospect" since that's all they can seem to say come July every year.

I was a staunch Rays fan. I used to defend them as my friends would look at me like I was crazy no more. I used to go to games. But not again. I would say they won't see me even if they won the division, but that would be an idle threat since it won't happen until the team is sold to somebody who wants to win.

[Mark Litt]

I hate the word prospects, especially since it doesn't apply to most of the players the Rays trade for. A 23 year old outfielder, 2 years out of college and still playing A ball is not a prospect, he is a throw in (Pedroza). The Rays specialize in trading established major leaguers for players other teams have given up on. 3 trades with the Dodgers in the last 9 months and the Rays have yet to get one of the Dodgers Piching prospects, Edwin Jackson, what a Joke.

[RICH]

WITH WIGGS OUT & LUGO GONE.. GOMES & CANTU NEED TO STEP UP. * SO GIVE THESE GUYS A CHANCE. NAVARRO BEHIND THE PLATE,OVER AT 3RD UPTON, ZOBRIST IS THE SS AND [ CANDO-CANTU AT 2ND. THESE 2 IN DURHAM WILL BATTLE FOR TRAVIS LEE'S SPOT: WITT OR GUZ? THEY BOTH HAVE THE [30 HR PWR]. WITT HAS 31 HRS & 87 RBI. HE MIGHT BE READY ?[HA] SO WITT OR GUZMAN? THE LOSER IS TOP TRADE BAIT. THINGS ARE LOOKING BETTER !!