Rays offer Lugo deal; counter coming
By MARC TOPKIN
Published July 28, 2006
The Devil Rays made a multiyear contract offer to shortstop Julio Lugo that apparently will be the starting point in negotiations.
Agent Dan Lozano said he would further analyze the offer today and discuss it with Lugo, then make a counter-offer to Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman.
"I think we're going to know a lot more come (today) when I speak to Andrew," Lozano said late Thursday.
Lugo, who can be a free-agent after this season, has been seeking a four- or five-year deal at $8-million to $10-million per. The Rays would prefer a shorter term and are unlikely to offer more than $8-million a year.
Neither Lozano nor Rays officials would provide details or characterize the offer.
Lugo, 30, told the Times on Wednesday, before the offer was made, "I think we could work something out. Realistically, I do." He previously said he wanted to explore the free-agent market but also that he liked playing for the Rays.
The negotiations have a degree of urgency due to the 4 p.m. Monday deadline for nonwaiver trades. The Rays have also had talks about trading Lugo, though Lozano said he did not know if his client definitely would be dealt if he did not agree to a contract with the Rays.
"That's not up to me to answer," he said. "That's up to Andrew, Gerry (Hunsicker), and the whole organization."
The Blue Jays appear the most logical trade partners, given their need for a shortstop and abundance of young pitchers they could trade. But Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi said Wednesday his priority is acquiring a starting pitcher.
The Red Sox and Mets also have some interest in Lugo.
Lugo, who leads the team with a .309 average and a .373 on-base percentage while filling the leadoff role, is making $4.95-million this season.
Friedman met in New York Thursday with principal owner Stuart Sternberg and team president Matt Silverman to explore their options.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK: It's not the best weekend to be in New York, not with the weather sticky and the Yankees red-hot, but Rays manager Joe Maddon, of course, wouldn't have it any other way.
In the midst of a stretch of 19 of 22 games against plus-.500 contenders, the Rays tonight open a three-game series against a team that, despite a bevy of injuries and Alex Rodriguez's struggles, has won 13 of its past 18 and moved into the AL wild-card lead as well as to the brink of catching East-leading Boston.
Maddon expects the Rays, who are 18-49 in the Bronx, to be up to the challenge.
"Any time you walk into Yankee Stadium it's fun," Maddon said. "And that's the one great disadvantage they have, because any team that walks in there wants to beat the Yankees regardless of what their situation is. You're on the stage. The platform is there. The lights are a little bit brighter. They're always good.
"And if you're a competitor it brings out the best in you. So we like playing there."
ON THE SITE: Scott Gallagher is a 39-year-old Rays fan from Oldsmar who feels strongly that the team needs to keep Lugo. So, as people tend to do these days, he launched a Web site, signlugo.com, to share his feelings.
"We're trying to generate public support and put a little pressure on the team to keep him," Gallagher said. "It seems like they're building a good team, but I think trading him would really be disheartening."
Gallagher is collecting names and e-mail addresses on the site and plans to forward them to the team in the form of a petition.
MINOR MATTERS: In a USA Today article, top prospect Delmon Young questioned why he, B.J. Upton and Elijah Dukes have not yet been called up. "They're what, 30 games out of first place?" Young said. "They think we're going to mess up their clubhouse chemistry. B.J. should be up there. What are they waiting for? They always have excuses." Young then said he was just venting and "we're just employees here." ... Young, after two homers Wednesday, is hitting .346. ... Kevin Witt hit his 29th homer Thursday and has 81 RBIs. ... Josh Hamilton is hitting .271 through 14 games of his comeback at Class A Hudson Valley. ... In his first 31 pro games, top draft pick Evan Longoria has a .385 average, 12 homers and 34 RBIs.
MISCELLANY: The Rays have lost all nine July road games and need a win this weekend to avoid their first winless road month ever. ... The nine-game road losing streak is the longest since a team-record 13-game skid from June 13-July 20, 2002. ... Damon Hollins and Edwin Jackson will stage a clinic Monday for 60 children at the refurbished Oliver Field at Campbell Park.
- MARC TOPKIN, Times staff writer