ESPN.com columnist Buster Olney is reporting that the St. Louis Cardinals have traded Julio Lugo to the Baltimore Orioles. The deal is still pending league approval and had not been announced, though Lugo confirmed the deal to the St. Louis Post Dispatch earlier this morning.

“I have a lot of respect for those guys. I loved it here,” said Lugo “I wish I could come back. I really liked it here. It’s one of the best places I’ve been.”

Lugo came to the Cardinals from Boston in July of last year. The Cardinals aqquired infielder Felipe Lopez in February which paved the way for the trade. The Orioles are in need of their own utility infielder after Brian Roberts experienced back problems this spring.