The Boston Red Sox made two trades, giving up high-priced shortstop Julio Lugo but adding an outfielder and a first baseman to their lineup.
Boston sent Lugo and cash to the St. Louis Cardinals for outfielder Chris Duncan. Earlier in the day they dealt two minor league players to Pittsburgh for first baseman Adam LaRoche.
In the 33-year-old Lugo, the Cardinals get a infielder who is making nine million dollars a year but has just one home run and seven errors in 37 games to show for it.
"We're optimistic that he will respond positively to a fresh start here in St. Louis," Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said.
A veteran of 10-plus seasons, Lugo owns a career batting average of .271 with 78 home runs and 187 steals.
The 28-year-old Duncan was hitting .227 with five homers and 32 RBIs this season. Duncan is the son of St. Louis pitching coach Dave Duncan.
The Red Sox made the deal just one day after they fell out of first place in the American League East.
Prior to the trade Boston had lost four straight games, their longest losing skid of 2009.
Copyright 2009 AFP American Edition
