Sox pick up option on Scutaro

[User Name]

Today, in a brand new edition of "News that should surprise absolutely no one":

 

 

By Peter Abraham:

 

Talk about a nice birthday present. The Red Sox today picked up their $6 million team option on Marco Scutaro.

 

The shortstop, who turned 36 today, hit .299 with a .358 on-base percentage in 2011 over 113 games. He hit .387/.438/.581 in September.

 

Scutaro held a $3 million player option for 2012 but surely would have declined that and gone into the free agent market. With Jose Iglesias hitting .235/.285/.269 for Class AAA Pawtucket, it made complete sense for the Red Sox to retain Scutaro and hope that Iglesias can play his way into the mix.

 

Iglesias turns 22 in January and has a total of 671 minor league plate appearances. He still needs time to develop.

 

The Sox have until tomorrow to decide whether to pick up their $3 million option on RHP Dan Wheeler.

 

Here's the team release on Scutaro:

 

The Boston Red Sox today exercised the 2012 contract option on shortstop Marco Scutaro. The announcement was made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington.

 

Scutaro, who turned 36 today, hit a career-best .299 (118-for-395), the second-highest clip among American League shortstops with at least 400 plate appearances, and also set a career mark with a .423 slugging percentage in 113 games for the Red Sox in 2011. He tallied 26 doubles, one triple, seven home runs, 54 RBI, 59 runs and 38 walks this past season while posting a .358 on-base percentage and .781 OPS, both the second-best marks of his career.

 

Scutaro made 109 appearances at shortstop in 2011, including 103 starts, and also started two games at second base. His .301 clip (116-for-386) as a shortstop during the 2011 season was the best by a Red Sox while playing the position since Nomar Garciaparra’s .301 average in 2003.

 

In 263 games with the Red Sox since he signed with the club as a free agent on December 4, 2009, Scutaro has batted .284 (292-for-1,027) with 64 doubles, one triple, 18 home runs, 110 RBI, 151 runs and 91 walks. Originally signed by the Guardians as an international free agent in 1994, he has a .270 career average (1,019-for-3,768) with 214 doubles, 14 triples, 68 home runs, 404 RBI, 538 runs, 388 walks and 44 stolen bases in 1,103 Major League games over parts of 10 seasons with the Mets (2002-03), Athletics (2004-07), Blue Jays (2008-09) and Red Sox (2010-11), and has posted the highest zone rating among AL shortstops since 2007 (minimum 320 games) at .844.

[Palodios]

I'll be the first to say.... Whew.

[Dojji]

Had to do it. This was a forgone conclusion about the time Lowrie got hurt again this year.

[seabeachfred]

For what it's worth I applaud the move as well. We certainly can't blame Marco for the collapse in September because he did his job extremely well. All this talk about Iglesias, however, is very very premature. I'll buy that he is a sensational defensive player but right at this moment he is a shell of a hitter, doesn't hit for average, no power, very poor OBP. I don't really know if he will ever hit up to par to becom a ML shortstop, but one thing is clear and that's he needs more seasoning in the minors learning to hit, work the count and raising his OBP. I also wonder if we could carry such a weak hitter in the lineup should he not improve in that department? If we have a solid lineup one through seven or eight I suppose you could, but there might have to be a pinch hitter available regularly if the game is on the line and it's his turn to bat late in the game. Well that's a worry for another day. I like picking up Marco's option, but please pray that next year Lowrie stays healthy all season so he can spell Marco when he needs a breather.

[Laser Show]

I was worried that Cherington would try to do something crazy, like sign Rollins or even Reyes. Picking up Scutaro's option is a great move, he performed very well last season and I for one breathed a sigh of relief knowing we won't be crippling ourselves with one of the aforementioned SS.

 

I think having Lowrie/Aviles on the bench is perfect for us. They can both play 2B/SS/3B pretty well, and Youk can spell Gonzo at 1B when he needs a breather. All I ask now is PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do NOT resign Papi. I'd thank him for his service to the club, but regrettably, as the season drags on, his offensive production is outweighed by the fatigue of the position players.

 

Personally, I feel our offense is set. I wouldn't try to move any of them unless we can strike a deal for an elite SP such as Felix. I'm 90% sure that won't happen though.

 

I'd go into the season like this as our every day players along with the backups I'd give the most PT to.

 

C- Salty/Lavarnway

1B- Gonzo/Youk

2B- Pedroia/Lowrie/Aviles

SS- Scutaro/Lowrie/Aviles

3B- Youk/Lowrie/Aviles

LF- Crawford/Kalish

CF- Ellsbury/Kalish

RF- Reddick/Kalish

DH- Lavarnway

 

I'd put Iglesias in Pawtucket for 2012, and only call him up if there is a serious injury or during September call-ups. 400 more ABs in the minors should be enough for him, and it will give us a better idea of what to expect for 2013.

 

*If he can't improve on his .235 BA from AAA, then I'm not too certain that I want him starting at the MLB level.

*If Scutaro's 2012 numbers are equivalent to his 2011, then I look to sign him for 2013 if Iglesias isn't ready.

*Think about Bogaerts as the SS of the future, being ready for the MLB level in 2014.

[User Name]

Cherington has gone on record saying the Red Sox are going to try and acquire a RH hitter for RF.

 

Expect one of Willingham/Beltran/Cuddyer to end up in a Red Sox uniform

[SoxSport]

That signals they won't be in the market for Reyes or Rollins.

 

I hope they bring up Iglesias at some point-- they need his defense at SS and not his bat.

Just teach the kid how to get on base. He doesn't have to hit .280.

[Scottish Red Sox Fan]

I find it odd that the Red Sox have chosen to pick up the option on Marco Scutaro when in recent years they have allowed Orlando Cabrera and Alex Gonzalez to walk away.

 

Maybe there were financial reasons for the Red Sox making those choices but, from a purely baseball perspective, I thought Cabrera and Gonzalez were better players than Scutaro.

[User Name]

Neither is. Gonzalez is a better defender, but can't hit a wrecking ball with a light pole, and Cabrera has been on a steady offensive and defensive decline for years.

 

At the current going rate for FA, Scutaro's production for $6 mill is a bargain.

[Scottish Red Sox Fan]

Neither is. Gonzalez is a better defender, but can't hit a wrecking ball with a light pole, and Cabrera has been on a steady offensive and defensive decline for years.

 

At the current going rate for FA, Scutaro's production for $6 mill is a bargain.

 

Alex Gonzalez may not be the greatest hitter but when the Red Sox had so many other offensive weapons in their line-up I think that is a sacrifice we could have afforded to make. He is a supremely talented defensive SS and I think we have missed that at times in recent years.

 

As for Cabrera, he wasn't in decline at the time the Red Sox let him go. In 2007, 3 years after leaving Boston, he led all AL short stops in fielding percentage and had the fewest errors in the league. So I think it's fair to say he still had plenty of mileage left in him. We have not been great at the SS position for a lot of the time since Cabrera left.

 

He was a free agent after the 2004 World Series so maybe he was asking the Red Sox for too much money? I just thought it was a very strange decision to let a guy go when he had been playing lights out during the play-offs and World Series.

[User Name]

Alex Gonzalez may not be the greatest hitter but when the Red Sox had so many other offensive weapons in their line-up I think that is a sacrifice we could have afforded to make. He is a supremely talented defensive SS and I think we have missed that at times in recent years.

 

He may just be one of the five worst hitter in the Majors. His half-season in Toronto last year (2010) was a fluke.

 

As for Cabrera, he wasn't in decline at the time the Red Sox let him go. In 2007, 3 years after leaving Boston, he led all AL short stops in fielding percentage and had the fewest errors in the league. So I think it's fair to say he still had plenty of mileage left in him. We have not been great at the SS position for a lot of the time since Cabrera left.

 

He was a free agent after the 2004 World Series so maybe he was asking the Red Sox for too much money? I just thought it was a very strange decision to let a guy go when he had been playing lights out during the play-offs and World Series.

 

Fielding percentage is not a good indicator of defensive ability.

 

On letting him walk in 2004, it was a blunder by the FO. They thought Renteria was the better player and were wrong. Don't think it was a money thing.

 

Because of the need for stability, keeping Scutaro, who's proven he can produce on both facets of the game (weak arm notwithstanding) for the Sox seems like a great idea.

[Palodios]

I find it odd that the Red Sox have chosen to pick up the option on Marco Scutaro when in recent years they have allowed Orlando Cabrera and Alex Gonzalez to walk away.

 

Maybe there were financial reasons for the Red Sox making those choices but, from a purely baseball perspective, I thought Cabrera and Gonzalez were better players than Scutaro.

 

Not only is Scutaro arguably the best SS to grace this team since Nomar, he's a gritty guy who plays hurt, and his name never came up in the BostonGlobe. This is a guy who has spent his entire career on the bench, and has fought tooth and nail to start--and even lost that position on the Red Sox in 2011, with not a single public complaint. And he hammered the ball in September when they needed him the most.

[redsoxrules]

Good!

 

Scutaro is underated , I like him.

[Dojji]

Actually I think Scutaro is rated just about right. He's not gonna carry your team, but if you need a guy to plug a hole at short, you could do a lot worse.

[redsoxrules]

Actually I think Scutaro is rated just about right. He's not gonna carry your team' date=' but if you need a guy to plug a hole at short, you could do a lot worse.[/quote']

 

He can also play 2B

[Elktonnick]

He can also play 2B

 

It may seem quaint now but allegedly there were clubhouse issues with Orlando Cabrara that resulted in his not returning.

[User Name]

Cabrera's been gone since 2004. Let's focus on Scutaro, who by the way plays 3B in addition to SS and 2B.

[Flynnatic10]

Scu Scu Scutaro!

[VA Sox Fan]

Cabrera's been gone since 2004. Let's focus on Scutaro' date=' who by the way plays 3B in addition to SS and 2B.[/quote']

 

Thank you!

[jacksonianmarch]

It may seem quaint now but allegedly there were clubhouse issues with Orlando Cabrara that resulted in his not returning.

 

Most notably banging manny's wife

[VA Sox Fan]

Most notably banging manny's wife

 

Link?

[Spitball]

Most notably banging manny's wife

 

I have not heard that one. I think Manny would have broken him in two in a roid rage. The most common rumor was he was hitting on a 17 year-old ball girl.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Who cares who was hitting on Manny's wife. He beats them up anyways like a little bitch.

 

Glad to have Scutaro back. Will we be chanting Lowrie in April this year?

[WhiskeyBreath]

Good no-brainer move here.

 

Funny how almost everyone here has changed their tune on Scutaro.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Good no-brainer move here.

 

Funny how almost everyone here has changed their tune on Scutaro.

 

He wasn't Troy Tulo good but he wasn't bad either. I think he's a nice piece to the team. The thing with Boston fans is they're spoiled.

[jung]

I am happy to have Internet access and Scutaro back again.

 

Actually I don't think Scuts numbers where that bad compared to his career numbers even going into September and his September resurgence got him on track in many ways even exceeding some career batting numbers. Unfortunately I think Scuts stuck out like earlier in the year when he had a hard time producing in clutch situations. Again in September he was one of the few guys coming through big when the chips were down.

 

Now Scuts money looks like a bargain compared with the money Sox are throwing at guys performing way below expectation. Hard to think about Scuts in terms of a "problem" that we have to resolve when we have multiple real problems to confront.

[Laser Show]

After all the hype about Scutaro's "great year" dies down, the fans will notice that he was a liability at SS.

 

B-R has his oWAR at a respectable 2.5, but his dWAR at a -1.1. I'm starting to lean more towards seeing if Iglesias can handle the everyday duties.

[jung]

I guess it has not actually been something that the board has commented on much but I was inclined to thinking Iglesias does get most of the work and Scuts maintains his role becoming the 2012 replacement at SS and 2nd....maybe 3rd.

 

Maybe a question worth asking. Do others think the plan would be for Iglesias to end up with most of the work at SS in 2012 with Scuts as the classic "reserve infielder"?

[User Name]

UZR has him at 0.7, right around the average. Even with a slightly negative D-War (which is not accurate down to the decimal number by the way) the fact that Scutaro provides positive value is undeniable. Can Iglesias do the same right now? Probably not.

 

Scutaro is the superior option until Iglesias is ready, which hopefully will happen sometime next year.

[jung]

Do you mean sometime during the 2012 season User or are you thinkin' the year after?