Look at the bright side: at least the Red Sox didn’t trade him for Dontrelle Willis, who is earning a base salary of $10 million this year with another $12 million due in 2010. As it stands, Lugo is raking in only $9 million in each of those years, which makes him a better, cheaper option than Willis. Was anyone expecting him to be Derek Jeter this year? Of course not. But Lugo is now occupying a potentially useful spot on the Boston roster and consuming a sizable chunk of payroll, which means he’s become a drain. Releasing him appears to be an option when Jed Lowrie comes back, but even then, the damage will not be done. The Red Sox have to pay him next year, too.