The Orioles have acquired Julio Lugo from the Cardinals in return for a Player to be Named Later, but that player might as well be Robert Andino, who the front office appears to have given up for the aging shortstop. Andino is out of minor league options, and after making strides last year defensively may not stay with the organization. Lugo, for his part, has had a solid if unspectacular career, with a career .271 average and an above average reputation as a fielder. At the age of 35, he had gradually diminished into a role player with the Red Sox and Cardinals, the former of which will be on the hook for the vast majority of his $9 million salary for this season. He is expected to be paid the veteran minimum and act as the utility infielder backing up shortstop and second base. But there is something uncomfortable about this deal.
Many of you who read my posts will recognize (or criticize) me as someone who has followed MacPhail unto the breach in defending his plan for revitalizing this organization. The way he has brought in young talent, leveraged aging stars to fill holes on the team, and given hope to the organization has been spectacular. But this move baffles me. In backing up two key defensive positions one shouldn’t rely on 35 year old legs- isn’t that why Miguel Tejada is playing third? He had 11 errors last season, which isn’t necessarily bad, but he does not have the range he used to at the position. Yes, his bat is better than Andino’s, that is hard to deny. Lugo hit .280 in 2009 with the Sox and Cards, but he hasn’t had a particularly great year since 2006, though his production has steadily been in the .260-.285 range with small RBI numbers. Andino, the likely casualty of this move, will take his .222 average and walk, despite the progress he has made since joining the team. He performed admirably defensively in Izturis’ absence during last season and had done enough in my opinion to stay with the club. Besides, there is only upside in the 25-year old. There is only downside in his 35-year old replacement.
This actually might say more about Justin Turner than anyone else, however. Turner was expected to battle Andino for the utility infielder spot, and perhaps the organization saw enough potential in him that they didn’t need two long-term solutions at the position. Like Atkins for Snyder or Tejada for Bell, perhaps Lugo is a one-year stopgap for this team as they wait for Turner to be ready. That would make Andino expendable and make it worth it to take the player who could help the team win now. Lugo also comes with a knowledge of the AL East, having played with Boston and Tampa Bay in recent years.
In the end however, to me the benefits do not outweigh the risks. Taking a slight bump in average and stolen bases for a pair of 35 year old legs at the most critical and athletic (debatable) position in the game to me sounds like an act of desperation, especially when one wonders how Lugo will take to being a role player on a bad team. Cesar Izturis isn’t known as a great hitter- if he slumps at the plate, will Trembley be switching between the two during the season? That would be a recipe for disaster as far as defensive chemistry is concerned. I trust the organization in general, but this smells bad to me.
Maybe MacPhail is trying to get these players for only half a year. Players like Lugo, Tejada, Atkins, Gathwright and Milwood are all old, but veterans and solid targets for teams making a run into the post season. So while these players will help fill small holes until the young guys get here, they also prove to be good trade bait for teams with younger players to only stockpile our farm system. Just a thought.
Hopefully a guy like Lugo will become more attractive later in the this and be used a trade bait. I definitely believe that.
April Fools! ….right……………………RIGHT?
Sorry…no April fools!
I don't hate this signing at all.
Andino made some unspectacular plays look spectacular last season. He has no range. He has no bat.
If anything this hurts Wiggy. Wiggy was playing some at the second this preseason.
as for the age factor, Omar Vizquel was a fine defender late into his 80's. I think Lugo will do just fine as a backup.
Byrdman, Wiggy was only playing 2B so much because Roberts was out. I think Andino would have been the guy to spell Roberts in the regular season. Now Lugo is. Wiggy is going to be hard pressed to get more AB's he will see some time at DH, 1st and 3rd, maybe even in the OF.
Alot of scuttlebutt out of Sarasota has been that Andino has an attitude. He's not good enough to have an attitude.
Yeah but he wears his hat over one of his ears!
Lugo has the winning attitude and appears to be a positive influence. NEVER liked Andino. For that matter I still don't like Caesar Salad. The guy is suppose to be all world at ss…I say that he above average and cannot hit his weight. I'd roll the dice with one of the minor league prospects- Turner (?) and trade Caesar while the getting is good.
Will I agree with you about Lugo's attitude and influence. He has been on some winning teams and I think that is always a good thing. I disagree with you about Izturis. He is a very good defender. Not great hitter, but the Orioles do not have anyone that can play the position the way he can, except maybe Lugo. Turner is thought of as a 2B mainly. Afterall, Scott Moore will be the SS at Norfolk, not Turner. Izturis could be around passed 2010.
Jeff
Izturis is one of the worst offensive players in MLB.
Not great is way too generous.
That said, this Lugo thing is alot about nothing.
I think the Lugo trade was about not seeing any future for Andino and not feeling comfortable with either him or Wiggy playing significant stretches at either of the middle infield spots. Which is only a play away with Roberts and Izturis.
I was in a giving mood tonight when discussing Cesar's offense.
Cesar's offense isn't great for sure, but he wasn't brought here for that reason. Unfortunately the Orioles really don't have an answer at that position. Unless I'm really missing something…
I'm surprised to see the club give up on Andino so quickly too. I figured it was worth giving him a shot. He played pretty solid when Izturis was out last season.
The club obviously wasn't happy with Andino this spring so it was a good move to bring in Lugo. .280 batting average last season is solid, above average fielder. I would like to see one of the older guys stand up and be a leader on this team but I won't hold my breath.
Pole – Maybe that guy is Lugo, although it's tough for a role player to be a team leader. He's been there before…
Yeah, I wouldn't count on him being a leader. If anything the O's are probably looking for Adam Jones to be doing that. I'm sure he didn't think that after being here a year he could step up…with two under his belt I hope he becomes more vocal.
As far as Lugo goes though, my point is that I wouldn't expect him to walk in and be a leader. Not a bad mood if they're having trouble with Andino, I'm just curious what kind of issues there are.
The naysayers are already coming down on Jones as being "too cocky". In the interviews I've seen with him and the times I've been around him at the ballpark, I haven't gotten that impression. He says a lot of things tongue-in-cheek that if you hear him say it, it doesn't sound as bad as when it's printed…CONTEXT. This freaking town is still hung up on Cal Ripken. If anyone comes in and threatens to become a leader, we don't like it. We'll beat him down until he's run out of town. Remember when Tejada had his consecutive games streak going and got injuried and lead off the next night only to bunt and be removed from the game? Oh, my, it was as if hysteria broke out in Highlandtown, Dundalk, Essex, and the surrounding burbs because someone was tainting the precious record.
Not to mention the play yesterday where Palmer described it as "pathetic".
Andino is on the outs.
Uhoh. Andino with an RBI double, homerun yesterday.
Lugo with a K.
Your leader SHOULD be a cocky guy, though I don't think Jones is cocky. I would use the word "outspoken."
Andino is NOT going down without a fight…how about this, keep Lugo and Andino and cut fat boy Ty loose???
Fat Boy Wiggington was useless last year. Going into last season, I thought he would take over third base when Mora stepped down. Now I'm not even sure he should make the team as a utility player.
I agree. I'd much rather keep Dino here and get rid of Ty. His bat wasn't impressive at all off the bench last season.
Things just wouldn't be the same without seeing Wigginton swing at the first pitch of every at bat!!
Again Mark you hit the nail square. Fat Boy swings at the first one so he can get back to the buffet.
STD – Agree with the Cal comment… It was beneath Calvin to be a leader… It was all about Cal and what Cal wanted to do…
Now let me throw this out… Most on here know I have a big beef about the Orioles getting these old bandaid players and cutting young guys. This is one of those trades and Lugo will be gone by the trading deadline so again the O's say one thing and do another…
Now, I've always like Lugo and here is something to argue about…
How about Lugo at SS instead of Izturis? Now look at the stats..
Izturis – 30 years old – in league 9 years – .259 avg – 261 ribbies – 98 stolen bases – .980 fielding avg.
Lugo – 35 years old – in league 10 years – .271 avg – 452 ribbies – 193 stolen bases – .965 fielding avg.
Now if you remember back when I argued against Jones in the 2 hole losing all those ribbies for a solid hitter when he should be batting 4th. How about Lugo at 1, Roberts 2, Markakis 3, Jones 4?
Really makes sense…
Ravens oi81 you might be on to something, insert Lugo and trade Caesar salad. The guys a piece of work, the only thing that he is good for is speeding up the game by swinging at the first few pitches…and grounding out- I like to call him 5-3, his favorite place to ground out. Lugo, Lugo, Lugo !!
I'd be ALL for that. I am much more confident in Lugo than I am Cesar. Lugo was a good pick up, especially if the Orioles are worried about the state of Brian Roberts.
Now I get into my O's bashing… O's are not working out Reimold at 1st! WTF??? The O's are great at taking players that haven't played a certain position and working them there. Here's a player, Reimold, that has an upside so the O's mess with his head and now work him at 1st! Just like they did with Scott last year!
Folks, the Orioles from manager to Front Office are clueless!!
Oh, and I haven't heard anything, but are the O's doing anything about Cuellar's death? A memorial night or something… The man deserves some form of acknowledgement from the Orioles… If they don't then its another classless move by the management…
I hope to see the club do something for Cuellar's death and I'm confident they will. I expect to see a moment of silence and some recognition during their home opener.
I think 2488 is onto something with his positive comments above, his 1-4 lineup sounds solid.
The one thing I liked about Ty was when I saw others making stupid base running decisions, he seemed to make good decisions. He might not have the prototypical baseball body but the guy knows how to play baseball. He might be worth holding onto.
He'll have to really impress me this season to change my feelings on his play. I was not at all impressed with Wiggi, never confident when he came off the bench and it's no secret that he isn't quick.
You know I hear talk all the time about the Orioles getting younger and how the Yankees can't go on any longer because of their age, etc…
Do you know the O's average roster age is 28.7? Yanks are 31.7… Not that big a difference…O's infield alone does not have anyone below 30 and the infields average age is 33!
They have 6 pitchers in their 20's, 25 being the youngest and 4 pichers in their 30's with 33 being the youngest in that group.
This team is not that young…. Luckily they have a few good young guys in Wieters, Markakis & Jones in the play the game right. Build & market your team around those three. But the O's are known to be screwups so cross your fingers…
Glad to see some numbers. I didn't know it was that close. I will tell you though that I feel the bulk, or at least the successful guys, in the roster are younger. The infield definitely does need some young guys, and hopefully they're on their way. Miggy will be out for Josh Bell, which should knock that average down. And hopefully Snyder will replace Atkins. They still don't have a young replacement at SS and Roberts is older, but you don't have to be entirely young.
All in all though 2488, I like the observations. I thought the O's were younger than that for sure.