O's trade for Julio Lugo

Lugo will likely serve as the back-up SS and insurance for an aching Brian Roberts.

The Orioles traded a player to be named later for 34-year old Julio Lugo.

Lugo will likely replace Robert Andino as the back-up SS in 2010. He also serves as some insurance for Brian Roberts who has been battling a sore back all spring and has just recently started playing in games.

Lugo surprisingly has some pop in his bat, posting a .784 OPS in 51 games a year ago. He has a career .727 OPS. Nothing stellar, but an improvement over Andino and his .557 career OPS.

Andino apparently made a nice stab at a hardly hit ball yesterday, and then hot-dogged it before making an errant throw to 1B. This drew the ire of manager Dave Trembley and GM Andy MacPhail. It's unlikely that one incident forced the Orioles to sour on Andino, but Andino's defense this spring has been poor and his poor offense proceeds him.

So while it's a minor move, it is a move that could have some positive impact for the O's this year. Lugo brings a little more pop to the plate than Andino and their defense is a wash. And with the Red Sox paying a large majority of Lugo's salary, it's almost as if the O's will be getting his services for free.