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LaRoche sent to Red Sox

Adam LaRoche was traded for a pair of minor leaguers. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press
Adam LaRoche was traded for a pair of minor leaguers. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

The Boston Red Sox added some depth a day after they dropped out of first place in the A.L. East and got rid of shortstop Julio Lugo in one of Wednesday’s deals.

Boston traded Lugo and cash to St. Louis for outfielder Chris Duncan, announcing the swap hours after they acquired first baseman Adam LaRoche from Pittsburgh for two minor leaguers.

Lugo, who signed a $36 million, four-year free-agent deal before the 2007 season, was designated for assignment Friday.

Duncan, the son of Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan, hit .227 with five homers and 32 RBIs in 87 games for St. Louis. The Red Sox optioned the outfielder to Triple-A Pawtucket.

Lugo was batting .284 with one homer and eight RBIs in 37 games, with seven errors.

LaRoche hit .247 with 12 homers and 40 RBIs in 87 games for the Pirates.

•Also, the Red Sox will retire Jim Rice’s No. 14 jersey.

The team said it will honor Rice in a ceremony at Fenway Park on Tuesday, two days after Rice is inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame.

Flu bug hits Rangers

Texas general manager Jon Daniels was avoiding shaking hands with anyone, wary of a nasty flu bug making its way through the Rangers’ clubhouse.

Texas put closer Frank Francisco on the disabled list Monday with a mild case of pneumonia and had at least four other players with flu-like symptoms.

Right-hander Vicente Padilla was scratched from Wednesday night’s start because of the flu. Reliever Eddie Guardado had enough symptoms that he also was told to stay away from the ballpark.

David Murphy wasn’t feeling well but didn’t have a fever and remained in Wednesday’s lineup.

Mattingly’s son arrested for shove

The son of former New York Yankee Don Mattingly has been arrested in Evansville, Ind., on charges of shoving his mother and spitting in her face.

Taylor Mattingly faces preliminary charges of battery, battery by bodily waste and criminal mischief.

Authorities say Mattingly admitted confronting his mother, Kim Mattingly, after she had sent him a text message insulting him, his girlfriend and his father.