Red Sox Hawking Lugo, Cubs Buying?

The Boston Red Sox have designated shortshop Julio Lugo for assignment, touching off trade rumors involving several teams, including the Cubs. But why should the Cubs be interested in Lugo, who has never lived up to the $9-million/year contract the Sox gave him in ’06?  Well, he is hitting .284 this year with an OBA north of .350.  Unfortunately, he has not looked good in the field, his range hampered by the lingering effects of a knee injury.  And if there’s one thing the Cubs don’t need it’s another sub-par defensive player.

Then again, if the Red Sox are willing to pick up the bulk of the money still owed Lugo on his contract, maybe this could be another low-risk dice-roll a la the B.J. Ryan pick-up.  Kind of sad, though, that the allegedly big-market Cubs are reduced to picking through the bargain bin to fill the myriad holes Jim Hendry left on the roster by doing such a piss-poor job in the off-season.