The Red Sox have exercised their $6MM option on Marco Scutaro for the 2012 season, tweets Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald. The team has confirmed the move in a press release.
Scutaro, who turns 35 today, enjoyed arguably the best offensive season of his career in 2011. In 113 games, he batted .299/.358/.423 while playing slightly above average defense at shortstop (according to UZR). Scutaro's offensive production and solid glove make a $6MM salary for 2012 a bargain.
While the move was expected, this news confirms that the market for shortstops will be even thinner beyond the two premier names atop the list: Jose Reyes and Jimmy Rollins. Players such as Clint Barmes, Jamey Carroll, and Alex Gonzalez (to name a few) figure to benefit from Scutaro's absence on the open market. This move represents the first official transaction for new Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington.
This is the right call given this year’s free agent market at short. Scutaro for $6M is a bargain and it’ll allow Iglesias to develop for another year.
As long as the Sox play him between 110-120 games even if he is healthy all year. He’s one of those players that perform much better over a shorter-ish season.
Good move, solid player unlike the rest of the trash on the team that doesn’t care
I sense some negetive energy coming from this direction^^^
Like Ellsbury, Pedroia, Youk, Gonzo, Salty, Tek. Papi. All those guys clearly didn’t care, right?
i would have gone with jose reyes.smh
I don’t understand why… Scutaro is a more than capable short stop and I personally would have loved the opportunity for my team to sign him.
They don’t need a shortstop or any more offense, they need pitching.
Exactly. They keep an average shortstop at an okay price tag. The Sox arguably had the best offensive team last year and at least a majority of that core is returning, so why upgrade hitting.
The Sox need pitching, pitching, pitching.
And better yet, now they have a valuable trade chip in case they do decide to go after another SS.
In the unlikely event the Sox sign Reyes, they still have a SS signed for below market value. If in the unlikely event the Sox sign Reyes, they can then trade the below market value SS to a team in need. The before mentioned below market deal would allow a deal to happen much more smoothly than that of a contract which has multiple years remaining.
Good move. Reyes and Rollins would have cost too much. Scoot is solid; not great but still good. Thinking Sox may keep Lowrie and Youk, platooning the 3 to (hopefully) stave off the “injury bug”. Right field may be Reddick’s and a solid veteran corner backup. THEN….THROW IT ALL IN FOR PITCHING!!!!
You’re kidding right?
Why? He may be spot on.
lol John is that troll from yesterday who called me a loser. He has no profile when you click on it.
Haha, already forgot.
Hey, John, what’s YOUR 2 cents then?
I agree with Paul Moore’s comment. Focus 100% on the bullpen
….and starting pitching. Keeping the same position players should be ok. Their pitching is really what did them in. Pap included.
I’ve expressed repeatedly how much I hate Papelbon, but can we get over blaming him already? The guy went over two months without giving up a single run, earned or otherwise and was one of the top relievers in the MLB this season. A handful of bad innings and he’s suddenly a pariah after the phenomenal season he had?
I wish the Sox would have let him go. This guy would have been a perfect fit for the Phillies to replace Jimmy Rollins on a 2 year deal (if he wanted it) to bridge the gap to Galvis.
I’m intrigued at the possibility of trading him. I think a team in desperate need of an SS upgrade could give us something good for him.
I want Iglesias SS every day .. but … It’s ok ..
That’s what I like to see. Hope all other shortstops find home soon so less suitors for Jose who will not deserve whatever he gets paid this off-season.
Good for you Scutaro. I find it hard not to cheer for that guy.
2009 was clearly a better offensive year, but last year was good as well. Scutaro is what he is and that is pretty good.
Pretty much a no brainer. 6 million for a really pesky hitter, terrific on base %, and a solid defender.
Wouldn’t have minded him in a Braves uniform, but I guess we’re going to have to check out the scraps for a SS this year. Pastornicky shouldn’t be up til mid-season at the earliest.
I would have loved for the Braves to get him too. Anyone but Alex Gonzalez.
SHOULD OF KEPT HANLEY
Why is Scutaro always so underrated?
Because he’s a good hitter in a great lineup and he keeps his mouth shut.
Very good move for the Sox…Bargain at $6M….Would have liked to see Lowrie step in but he is clearly not reliable enough to do so…
I’m actually pretty suprised by this. I figured they’d let him go and go after Reyes, Rollins or Furcal
Besides Ellsbury, Scutaro is one of the very few Red Sox players who seemed to play well and with heart in the miserable month of September.
This narrative persists, but it isn’t correct. The Red Sox offense continued to be quite good in September, they ended up 3rd in the AL in runs scored that month, 3rd in OBP and 4th in SLG. For the season, they hit .280/.349/.461 – in September, it was .280/.342/.462.
Their offense was basically as good as it was all year long. They lost in September because their pitching sucked, not because they didn’t “play with heart.”
Good move either way. He is reliable batting 9 th or lead off and he manages to find a way to get on base. It wouldn’t surprise me if a new manager moves Scu to lead-off and Ells to #3 in the order.
Scu, Pedroia, Ells, AGon, ARam, Papi, Crawford, Salty, Reddick.
Way to sublty slip in Ramirez instead of Youk in a post about Scutaro. Why pay more for less? It’ll take alot more than Youk to bring quality starting pitching in a trade. No matter how much Ellsbury and Youk do or don’t get along, this doesn’t make much sense.
Grant, good observation about ARam–it’s amazing the number of teams that are very interested in Youk. His ability to play 1 b or 3 b or DH kind of wants me to see him stay similar to Texas wanting to keep Michael Young after they picked up Beltre last year and Andrus the year before at SS.