Lugo hopes to hit it big

Secret agents have aroused more attention than Julio Lugo's arrival in Boston did.

But that didn't make him any less welcome to the Red Sox, who introduced the shortstop they've coveted for years to a thoroughly distracted media yesterday at Fenway Park.

Lugo's press conference lasted about eight minutes as reporters tried desperately to think of a question that didn't contain the word "Daisuke."

This wasn't simply a courtesy; the Sox had declared verboten any mention of that Japanese fellow Whatshisname at Lugo's coming-out.

Poor guy -- or as poor as a guy making $36 million over the next four years could be. The Sox' imminent signing of a certain $100 million pitcher may not have been an official topic, but it hovered over the proceedings like John Henry's private plane.

Whether or not the public was interested, the Sox seemed giddy to have him aboard.

Assistant general manager Jed Hoyer -- presiding because GM Theo Epstein was preoccupied with some other matter -- said the Sox had been intent on acquiring Lugo since 2004, when they engaged in trade talks with Tampa Bay, Lugo's employer before he was dealt to the Dodgers at the trading deadline last season.

"I'm finally here," said Lugo, sounding thrilled.

Manager Terry Francona expressed excitement at the prospect of having him hit at the top of the order ahead of David Ortiz, Manny Ramírez, and Lugo's fellow free agent signee, J.D. Drew.

"He brings things we don't have," said Francona. "He's a base-stealing threat. He gives us offensive weapons at shortstop."

That's the trade-off the Sox decided to make this offseason when they allowed light-hitting Alex Gonzalez -- considered far superior to Lugo defensively -- to depart for Cincinnati as a free agent. They hope Lugo, 31, will compensate with his bat, which has produced a .277 average, 68 home runs, and 336 RBIs in seven seasons with Houston, Tampa, and Los Angeles. His legs (139 steals, with a high of 39 in 2005) shouldn't hurt, either.

"Julio's job is to score a ton of runs," said Francona.

"One of our focuses this winter has been to lengthen our lineup," added Hoyer, "like we had in 2003 and 2004."

Ortiz, Lugo's good buddy and fellow Dominican Republic native, just happened to be hanging around Fenway and said after the press conference, "He brings a lot of energy, a lot of quickness. And he's aggressive."

Ortiz had been lobbying Francona for three years in Lugo's behalf -- "every time we were in Tampa," said the manager. It didn't take much persuasion, because Francona was enamored of Lugo, too.

"I'd make it a point to run into him accidentally," said Francona.

Now he'll run him on purpose, and he expects Lugo, who will wear No. 23, to be on base often. The evidence supports him.

"I've done good in this park," said Lugo.

To the tune of a .330 average (38 for 115) in 30 Fenway games, one of the factors that intrigued the Sox.

Lugo was hitting well everywhere, batting .308, for the first four months of 2006. Then the Dodgers started monkeying with him, using him at five positions -- second and third base, shortstop, right and left field -- and only two of his 32 starts in LA were at short. The effect was reflected in his average: .219 over the final two months .

"I wasn't being myself," said Lugo. "I try to be myself, improve my offense, defense, base stealing, everything, every day."

He played in virtual privacy during parts of four seasons in Houston, and he knows that won't be the case at Fenway. Nor does he want it to be.

"The fans here love the game," said Lugo. "When you're on the other side, they can drive you crazy. I want to be on the good side."

He'll find out as soon as the public notices he's here.

The Sox also agreed to terms with backup catcher Doug Mirabelli on a one-year contract worth $750,000, with an equal amount attainable in performance bonuses. Should he pass his physical, Mirabelli would return for his seventh season in Boston. He had opted for free agency Oct. 28.

Drew, who took his physical at the same time as Lugo, didn't have his deal announced yesterday, but Hoyer said it was just a matter of working out the final details. "His contract is fairly complicated and Scott [Boras] and Theo have been fairly busy on some other things. They just need to dot some I's and cross some T's."

Bob Duffy can be reached at Duffy@globe.com.