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Seth Lugo Drawing Widespread Interest

By Darragh McDonald | December 7, 2022 at 1:24pm CDT

DECEMBER 7: The Angels, Nationals and Dodgers are also in the market, reports Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic.

DECEMBER 6, 8:01pm: The Red Sox are also expressing interest in Lugo, reports Chris Cotillo of MassLive (on Twitter).

DECEMBER 6, 6:39pm: Right-hander Seth Lugo has been drawing interest as a starting pitcher and Jon Heyman of The New York Post reports that working as a starter is Lugo’s preference as well, with the Padres one of several teams interested in him.

It’s been a while since Lugo has been tried out in a rotation role for more than a brief stretch. His career high for starts in a big league season is 18, which came back in 2017. Since that time, he’s been primarily working out of the bullpen, serving as an effective reliever for the Mets.

In 278 career games, only 38 of them have been starts, but Lugo has a career 3.48 ERA, 24.8% strikeout rate, 6.7% walk rate and 44.1% ground ball rate. He’s fared much better out of the ’pen, as his ERA is 2.91 there while 4.35 as a starter, with more strikeouts as a reliever to match.

Despite that split, as mentioned, it’s been quite some time since Lugo’s been given an extended stretch in the rotation. That means most of those stats came from Lugo’s first two years in the big leagues, when he made 26 of those 38 career starts. It’s possible he’s capable of producing better results now that he has more experience. He also has a larger pitch mix than the average reliever, something that could help him move through a lineup a few times. Last year, he had four pitches that he threw at least 13.7% of the time, with his curveball leading the way at 33.5%, followed by his four-seamer at 29.3%, his sinker at 21.9% and his slider at 13.7%. He also has a changeup that he mixed in 1.6% of the time, though it’s been 7.1% for his career.

For the Padres, they lost a couple members of their rotation to free agency in Mike Clevinger and Sean Manaea, while also trading MacKenzie Gore to the Nationals. Nick Martinez opted out of his contract but was quickly re-signed and seems to have a chance of retaking a rotation spot himself, after getting bumped to the bullpen. They currently have Joe Musgrove, Yu Darvish and Blake Snell in the front three spots. It would be surprising to see them go into the season with the last two spots in their rotation dedicated to unproven options like Martinez and Lugo, especially when they just reportedly offered Trea Turner $342MM. But it’s possible they could also add a fourth starter and have those Martinez and Lugo battle for the fifth spot with one of them going to the bullpen if everyone is healthy. Though Lugo reportedly prefers to start, it’s unknown how he would value a non-guaranteed starting role on a contender like the Padres against a clearer path to starting on a less-competitive team.

San Diego’s payroll limits are an ongoing question. As mentioned, they just made a massive offer to Turner, but some reporting indicates they were willing to make an exception for him and won’t necessarily dedicate those resources to other players. As of right now, Roster Resource calculates their competitive balance tax figure at $230MM, just barely under the lowest CBT threshold of $233MM. With the club still seeking to upgrade in the rotation and elsewhere, going over the line seems inevitable. Lugo isn’t likely to break the bank as a back-end rotation candidate but every dollar over the line will count. Since the Padres are set to be a third-time payor, they will be subject to a 50% tax on all spending over the line and even higher penalties if they go over by $20MM or more.

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Boston Red Sox Los Angeles Angels Los Angeles Dodgers San Diego Padres Washington Nationals Seth Lugo

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View Comments (65)
Post a Comment

65 Comments

  1. User 2079935927

    3 years ago

    Lugo A Go Go

    Reply
    • User 3044878754

      2 years ago

      Actually, the Guardians are Lugo’s #1 destination as he wants to play with a division champion with an expectation of a World Series. Look for a deal to come together quickly.

      1
      Reply
      • CaptainJudge99

        2 years ago

        The Guardians or the Spiders seem to be on everyone this winter.

        1
        Reply
    • dugmet

      2 years ago

      His “stutter foot” windup with no one on base is unwatchable.

      1
      Reply
      • Dorothy_Mantooth

        2 years ago

        If Heyman says it’s down to the Dodgers, Padres or Nationals then Lugo will be signing with an AL team for sure!

        1
        Reply
        • Curly Is A Dumb Stooge

          2 years ago

          That’s “Steph Loogy” to Mr. Heyman

          Reply
    • DakotaJoe

      2 years ago

      I am showing interest in Lugo. I need a personal butler.

      Reply
  2. Holy Cow!

    3 years ago

    Right now AJ is sitting in a vault with $342 million wondering wth happened.

    1
    Reply
    • RonDarlingShouldntBeInTheHallOfFame

      3 years ago

      Till tomorrow when it goes to Judge.

      3
      Reply
      • zeuz1

        3 years ago

        Big time upgrade for the Padres. A center fielder who can hit!

        1
        Reply
      • zeuz1

        3 years ago

        Padres win the World Series with Judge.

        3
        Reply
        • RonDarlingShouldntBeInTheHallOfFame

          3 years ago

          After hearing the Giants were at $360, it’d be silly for Preller not to beat the offer with the Turner money..and we know how much he likes shiny things.

          Reply
        • Javia135

          3 years ago

          I think the Padres are more likely to go after Bogaerts than Judge.

          1
          Reply
        • CaptainJudge99

          2 years ago

          @zeuz1- face it, he was never going to the Padres.

          Reply
    • LosPobres1904

      3 years ago

      Give it me instead

      Reply
  3. dugmet

    3 years ago

    Lugo and his stutter foot can hang CBs in SD.

    Reply
    • Curly Is A Dumb Stooge

      2 years ago

      And his partially torn UCL

      Reply
  4. 99socalfrc

    3 years ago

    Lugo/ Cueto/ Syndergaard to round out the Padres pitching staff.

    Reply
  5. Robrock30

    3 years ago

    I like Seth Lugo when used properly as a RP not on back to back days and not in multiple innings. As a SP max two times through the lineup.

    Reply
    • G.M. Ima Scapegoat

      3 years ago

      So your saying he signs with tampa, becomes a starter and finishes in the top 5 in cy young vote next season?

      3
      Reply
      • Neon Cop

        2 years ago

        Heyman has zero credibility.

        Reply
  6. MLB Top 100 Commenter

    3 years ago

    The already have a 40 home run outfielder for 2023, Tatis, Jr. he may be an idiot but I predict he will be a superstar for a long time.

    I do think they should ease him back as DH when his 20 games left in the suspension are up.

    5
    Reply
    • Brew’88

      3 years ago

      50 hr/yr

      2
      Reply
    • Curly Is A Dumb Stooge

      2 years ago

      Manny, I don’t know how you could be so sure that Tatis wasn’t just (mostly) a product of his PED use. He needs to prove himself again offensively, stay healthy (big ask) and stay steroid-free for at least a full season before he’s ever considered a superstar again. And that’s from a San Diego resident.

      Reply
  7. Javia135

    3 years ago

    Aim higher AJ.

    Reply
  8. Attystephenadams

    3 years ago

    He was a lights out reliever for a while with the Mets, but now he’s just good. His results as a starter are just not there. And he’s got a partially torn ligament that limits his usage. Buyer beware!

    4
    Reply
    • padam

      3 years ago

      Lights out? He blew tight games as the set up guy. He was only effective when he had a decent lead or they needed someone to go two innings early on.

      1
      Reply
    • LFGMets (Metsin7)

      3 years ago

      @Attystephenadams if your idea of “lights out” is blowing every close game then you are correct. What games have you been watching

      Reply
  9. Cora the Destroya

    3 years ago

    If this is the best Red Sox have then they’re giving up.

    Reply
    • Thomar

      3 years ago

      No worries, Bloom couldn’t sign his mother

      3
      Reply
      • G.M. Ima Scapegoat

        3 years ago

        But reports were he made an offer….

        Reply
  10. spitball

    3 years ago

    Well, if the RedSox are interested in Seth, then they will lowball him, and he is certain to go elsewhere. 0% chance he gets to Beantown.

    2
    Reply
    • GASoxFan

      3 years ago

      Problem is, SD is getting burned even when they have the higher offer.

      So who wins? It’s like when a pair of 0-10 teams meet, SOMEONE has to win.

      Reply
  11. Pedro Martinez’s Mango Tree

    3 years ago

    Enjoy Lugo, Padres. Seeing it be down to ____ and the Red Sox is an automatic for the other team. Bloom has no ability to pull the trigger on anyone who any other team wants. He can’t hang with the big dogs in the league. We should have left him in Tampa

    1
    Reply
  12. vtbaseball

    3 years ago

    bloom is too chickenshit for this game

    Reply
    • G.M. Ima Scapegoat

      3 years ago

      Well if ever wondered what It would be like If Gabe from The Office was a GM, now you know.

      Reply
  13. Edp007

    3 years ago

    Lego my Lugo

    2
    Reply
  14. bosox2004

    3 years ago

    So, this means that San Diego will sign him

    1
    Reply
  15. DanielDannyDano

    3 years ago

    Lugo possibly getting a chance to return to starting reeks of a Toronto Blue Jays Atkins/Shapiro type move. If Lugo falters, he could end up in the Jays bullpen with Yusei Kekuchi, Matt White and possibly Jose Berrios.

    Reply
  16. In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani

    3 years ago

    It seems that the Red Sox are being used to prop up prices. They were “really pushing for” quite a few guys before they lost out on them.

    Reply
    • User 3663041837

      3 years ago

      All part of Blooms master plan. He’s out there playing 4D chess while everyone else is sniffing glue.

      Reply
      • vtbaseball

        3 years ago

        He’s playing chess while everyone else is at the winter meetings making actual deals.

        2
        Reply
  17. Pads Fans

    3 years ago

    Senga or bust. Rodon costs draft picks and probably double Senga’s total dollars.

    1
    Reply
  18. AL34

    3 years ago

    Bloom is always looking for a BARGAIN and cannot resist. He is a professional tire kicker. When the buffet is out there he comes up after an hour looking for scraps and the food no one wanted. I never believed the hype that the Red Sox were going to be big spenders this year. Not with this guy. We are hearing he wants to trade Dalbac, that should fetch a bag of balls or an old catchers glove. You are going to an out Casas as the first basemen this year. Didn’t we already go through this with Dalbac. He will be the villain after Boggarts signs elsewhere too. Bloom will be gone if this team bombs again this year.

    1
    Reply
    • Michael Macaulay-Birks

      3 years ago

      I’m a diehard Red Sox fan and honestly I don’t think the Red Sox are going to be a playoff team with or without Bogey, Maybe it’s time to blow this thing up

      Reply
  19. SODOMOJO

    3 years ago

    Meh

    Reply
  20. matthewc-4

    3 years ago

    For the love of God, Angels, noooooooooooooo!

    Reply
  21. LFGMets (Metsin7)

    3 years ago

    Lugo is terrible, he should only be put in when your down by about 4-5 runs. His arm injury from the World Baseball Classic completely ruined his career

    Reply
  22. JerseyShoreScore

    3 years ago

    Dodgers would really make this a great off season if they can add Lugo to their Shelby Miller steal of a deal…

    Reply
  23. HalosHeavenJJ

    3 years ago

    Guy wants to go from 65 innings to a full starter’s load at the age of 33.

    I can’t see that going well.

    If he wants to shoot for 75-100 innings as a long relief/swing guy. Go for it.

    Reply
    • Herc33

      3 years ago

      Padres did that SP/RP hybrid thing with Martinez last year and had him throw a touch over 100 innings. That might be why they’re interested here.

      You can get creative with it and have a 6 man rotation for some of the year, or piggy-back a couple guys so that they each only throw 4 innings per outing. Then down the stretch you convert to RP only to limit innings. Lots of ways to maneuver his workload.

      Reply
  24. This one belongs to the Reds

    3 years ago

    Another crier about the luxury tax and people kept turning down their offers!

    Reply
  25. slider32

    3 years ago

    Lugo is the top swing man in the market, he should get what he wants with all the action on him.

    Reply
  26. deGromTexasRanger

    3 years ago

    Hes about to get 15Mill x 3-4years

    Reply
  27. theruns

    3 years ago

    As a Met fan I loved him out of the pen, but as a starter (or with more work/longer outings) his velocity would go way down, and he’s spent years pitching with a partial UCL tear.

    A solid one inning reliever though.

    Reply
  28. Gridlocked

    2 years ago

    Bloom was last seen dumpster diving in a Burger King parking lot, coming up with a half a double cheeseburger – exclaiming ‘we finally signed one of our top priorities’.

    But he was talking about a new deal for hand sanitizer.

    1
    Reply
  29. Kershaw's Lesser Known Right Arm

    2 years ago

    It’s alright the Padres can offer him a $200 million deal over 10 years … only for the Dodgers to swoop in and sign him for $10 over 1 yr haha

    4
    Reply
  30. In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani

    2 years ago

    I want him on Texas. Given that the White Sox are trying to get teams to trade for an overpaid reliever, why not just sign one instead? That is the worst case scenario; the best case scenario is if he is cheap.

    Reply
  31. put it in the books

    2 years ago

    This payroll tax system is stupid. Just put in a cap if they want to limit it. It’s almost as bad as the federal tax system.

    Reply
  32. mookiesboy

    2 years ago

    A battle? For Lugo? Hardly

    Reply
  33. BuyBuyMets

    2 years ago

    Good middle of the bullpen arm, but I dont really get all the excitement over a 33 year old, effective but not exceptional relief pitcher.

    Reply
    • slider32

      2 years ago

      All the big dogs are off the board!

      Reply
  34. LFGMets (Metsin7)

    2 years ago

    Lugo hasn’t been the same since the injury he got in the WBC. Often blows close games. For every 10 outings, hes lights out in 1 of them. Feels like if hes doing bad, he implodes and has trouble getting out of tough situations. More of a back end reliever as of now. On good bullpens, he would only be put in the 5th inning or in blowouts

    Reply
  35. marooned in NE

    2 years ago

    Are the Padres interested in Hosmer?

    Reply
  36. whyhayzee

    2 years ago

    Again with the John Heyman crap? Do you ever learn? This guy’s a tool.

    1
    Reply

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