Tim McKernan posted on July 22, 2009 00:00
Updated at 4:30
Chris Duncan is officially on the move to Boston.
A source within the Red Sox organization tells insideSTL.com that Duncan will not be joining Boston, but rather he'll be going to AAA Pawtucket.
In exchange, the Cardinals receive middle infielder Julio Lugo, who hasn't played for the Sox since July 6th, but, much like Duncan, has 
one hit this month. Lugo is hitting .284 with 1 HR and 8 RBI.
According to a number of sources, this deal was done last night. Cardinal players were told that Duncan was traded following the loss in Houston. Kyle Lohse, joining our show this morning, even let it slip by referring to Duncan and speaking of his time with the Cardinals in past tense.
However, something happened in between the time the deal was done last night and this morning, when John Mozeliak texted me that Duncan had been optioned. One theory posted online at STLToday.com and VivaElBirdos.com was that Tony La Russa and Dave Duncan went ballistic when told of the deal, threatened to quit, and that's why the deal didn't go down.
Mozeliak texted me that that was "false."
One source tells me that Dave Duncan thinks it would be best for Chris to leave St. Louis, so the idea that the pitching coach stood in the way of this deal is contradicted by that.
However, it doesn't explain why the deal was done...then off...then Duncan was optioned to Memphis...and then sent to Boston/Pawtucket.
Updated at Noon
One of the best Cardinal websites you'll find---vivaelbirdos.com---is reporting the Cardinals have traded C
hris Duncan to Boston for Red Sox infielder Julio Lugo.
To get confirmation and details, I texted John Mozeliak at 11:30 asking whether the report of a Duncan trade was accurate, and he responded by saying, "Duncan is optioned."
Interestingly enough, when Kyle Lohse was on our show this morning, he may have let it slip that Duncan was a great teammate. Take a listen by clicking HERE.
One of the more fascinating rumors circulating Cardinal fan sites at vivaelbridos.com and Bernie's Pressbox at STLToday.com is that Duncan was indeed traded last night, but Tony La Russa and Dave Duncan were so mad over the move that they threatened to quit. When I asked Mozeliak via text about that, he replied, "False."
More details as they become available...