B.J. Upton's rise and a possible move from shortstop could get in the way for him and the Rays.
By MARC TOPKIN
Published May 18, 2004
ST. PETERSBURG - The Devil Rays' signing of Julio Lugo a year ago probably couldn't have worked out any better for either side.
The Rays, who needed a shortstop after Rey Ordonez was hurt, got one who has been reasonably steady in the field and surprisingly potent at the plate. Lugo, released by the Astros after an off-field incident, got a chance to play regularly and establish himself as a front-line starter and a productive two-way player.
"It was an unfortunate situation what happened, but I always say something happens for a reason," Lugo said. "Nothing could have happened better than coming here. My family's right near me (in Kissimmee). I like this team, I like the guys here, I like the coaches.
"I feel very happy here, and that's the biggest difference. I think I landed in a place I needed to land."
The Rays say they would like to keep Lugo, perhaps offering a multiyear deal. Lugo says he would like to stay.
But that doesn't mean there's going to be a happy ending.
As well as Lugo is playing now, the Rays know the future shortstop is B.J. Upton, the multitalented 19-year-old who is considered the top prospect in minor-league baseball.
Rays officials actually decided last week to promote Upton from Double A, then changed their minds and sent him to Triple A - for now.
But the more the team struggles, the more pressure there will be to bring the kid up and let him play, perhaps within the next month or two.
The plan the Rays have talked about is to keep them both, with Upton taking over at shortstop and Lugo moving to second base. But Lugo, 28, sounds like if he has to move from shortstop, he'd just as soon move to another team.
"When that point comes we're going to have to see because, I tell you, I feel very good and I think I'm playing good defense and right now I think is the best stage of my career, and that my career is just climbing," Lugo said.
"I'd like to stay here. I think they have a chance to keep me, but they have to make me want to stay. And they need to make this team a little better."
The Rays talked about moving Lugo to second base in the offseason when they signed Rey Sanchez, but manager Lou Piniella decided before spring training to stick with Lugo, and Sanchez is now a platoon player at second.
Upton, however, is going to end up at shortstop. It would seem the best Lugo could do is delay his arrival.
"I know he's around, but I can't worry about what he's doing or what anybody's doing. I need to concentrate on what I can do and what I'm doing right now," Lugo said.
"If by any chance they think the team will be better with him and without me, there's (a lot) more teams out there."
The decision the Rays have to make will be important and expensive, since Lugo is making $1.75-million this year and will be in line to more than double his salary. They could try to convince him to play second and sign him, they could trade him later this season and use Sanchez and/or Geoff Blum at second, they could end up in arbitration with a disgruntled player, they could let him go as a nontendered free agent.
As much as the Rays have struggled this season, they don't want to consider where they would be without Lugo. He is hitting .284 with a team-high 11 doubles, 23 RBIs and a .412 average with runners in scoring position that is sixth best in the American League.
"From Day 1 to now he's been as consistent and productive as anybody we have," Piniella said.
In a 102-game stretch going back to July 19, Lugo has batted .303 with 16 home runs and 58 RBIs. While Lugo can still can be erratic at times, especially with his throws, he has improved his defense and with five errors in 158 chances (a .968 fielding percentage) ranks eighth among AL shortstops. His speed, energy, enthusiasm and durability are all assets, too.
"I want to be considered an all-around player," Lugo said.
