Theo Tries Again: Marco Scutaro Signs with the Red Sox
by Ben Buchanan on Dec 3, 2009 11:28 PM EST
44 comments
Theo Esptein has taken another swing at filling the shortstop position for the Red Sox, signing free agent Marco Scutaro to a 2-year deal.
News came from Venezuelan paper Lider first, over an hour before other sources confirmed the move.
A type-A free agent, Scutaro's signing will require a draft pick compensation, though if the Sox sign a higher-ranked free agent such as Matt Holliday, the Jays will only receive a second round pick from the Sox instead of a first.
Scutaro is coming off a career year during which he posted a line of .282/.379/.409 while playing above average defense according to UZR.
For the Red Sox, Scutaro provides hope for some consistency at shortstop. Since the departure of Nomar Garciaparra and Orlando Cabrera, the Sox have struggled to find a replacement, with disappointing performances from Edgar Renteria and Julio Lugo. Alex Gonzalez played solid defense in 2006, and again in the last half of 2009, but was a significant hole in the lineup.
The deal is expected to be announced tommorow (Friday), likely with a mutual option for a third year.
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Two years and a mutual option, apparently
You know, everyone keeps saying “career year” and while that may be true, Scutaro’s got more playing time over the past two years than he ever had before. He’s swinging at less pitches in general, but making better contact. He’s also had three straight years with positive UZR/150 ratings at SS (although, yes, up until last year it was under 100 games, but still). This could turn out to be a completely average signing, which is the best we could hope for.
DFA Beckett
by South Coast Ghost on Dec 3, 2009 11:44 PM EST up reply actions
Average players in the right positions can still help you win championships
especially when you’ve had below-average players at that position in the past.
Let’s face it. He is a significant upgrade, and is likely to be a better than average SS in 2010.
Eh, I'm guessing the trade market for SS's was crap
As much as some of us were getting used the idea of trying Pedroia at SS and a guy like Hudson at 2B, it really WAS a last resort to the FO.
I think they went out looking for a SS who had a good OBP and was at least average defensively, and they think they’ve found him in Scutaro. A more well-rounded option than going for a guy who is all glove/no bat (Everett) or a guy who is all bat/no glove (Tejada).
DFA Beckett
by South Coast Ghost on Dec 4, 2009 12:11 AM EST up reply actions
Signing Holliday doesn't dodge the draft cost.
In fact, we’d give up our second round pick in addition to our first, if we were to sign Holliday or Lackey or somebody like that.
Maybe you meant that it’s more justifiable to give up a 2nd round pick for Scutaro than a 1st rounder?
Ding
It’s economics. By adding more type-A’s, we increase the total cost, but reduce the average cost is reduced. In fact, since the 2nd rounder can be specifically assigned to Scutaro, it’s noticeably better.
USG
However,
in Economics, decisions are based on marginal cost, not average cost. So, if the Sox were already confident that we would sign Matt Holliday, then yes, Scutaro only cost a second rounder. However, as things stand now, Scutaro has cost the team a first round pick and if we sign Matt Holliday he will cost a second round pick.
"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw
If we sign Holliday
and Bay signs elsewhere (Which he will), we will then have 2 first round picks and two sandwich picks, thus meaning we lost next to nothing in signing them both.
I didn't like the old one very much. I didn't see the ball there very well. - Julio Lugo on the old Yankees Stadium.
But the point is marginal cost, not total cost.
"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw
right
I think it makes sense only if we very much intend to sign holliday, so they are viewing the cost as a 2nd round draft pick.
Of course, we let Wagner walk and if we let Bay walk, we have a total of 3 first round picks before giving them away, so we can maybe afford our #26 pick.
holy crap, was not expecting that.
forgive me if i’m a little skeptical about this deal, but i have a feeling he’ll stabilize SS. only thing i’m pissed about is the draft pick, but we got wagners and we’ll get bays so its all good.
Hey fellas, it's been awhile
…real busy with school, work, and everything since I’m back in the States. Pulling an all-nighter in the library studying for finals right now
But I’m not sure how I feel about the signing. I was kinda interested to see how Pedey’s range is at SS and signing a solid 2nd basemen, but this might be the safest option. If Bay falls through, and we sign Holliday or another top free agent, I do like just giving up a 2nd round pick instead of a 1st (maybe Theo’s seeing this as the smartest move)
just my 2 cents
Hmmm
Not what I wanted to learn at 12 a.m.
Regardless, expect us to cover the ish out of Mr. Scutaro in the coming days.
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The other thing I like about Scutaro
is his ability to play anywhere. If Lowrie is pushing for playing time, Scutaro would still have value as a super-sub.
"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw
yeah
and it does make it so we have tons of infield options if youk, lowrie, scutaro, and martinez are all able to play multiple positions for if someone gets injured
This move will look a lot better once we sign Holliday and Gonzalez
DFA Beckett
by South Coast Ghost on Dec 4, 2009 12:15 AM EST reply actions
Yeah, that's who I meant
I just meant this won’t look as bad once we’re only giving up a 3rd round pick for Scutaro.
DFA Beckett
by South Coast Ghost on Dec 4, 2009 12:24 AM EST up reply actions
totally
giving up a first rounder for him is a sin, but theres no way theo is done, what with our bullpen dropping like flies. well actually we’re only minus one guy from opening day last year…
honestly
I’d be surprised if that wasn’t taken up by Richardson, he’s a cheap lefty and has been looking good. If we sign another starter and wake ends up in the pen, the pen is beyond set. I wouldn’t mind Gonzalez, but I know he wants to close so I’m guessing he would take too much money to have come to boston to set up, and the spot doesn’t seem necessary.
i forgot about wake
i’m just not sure he’s most valuable as a long man. but basically any of the FA starters coming off injuries should be better than wake. let us not forget that wake is coming off three straight injured seasons.
I'm just assuming that they're gonna try out someone on the market
since he’s pretty well proven he won’t last the whole year as a starter.
I just don’t feel great about this signing. I’ve never been impressed with Scutaro, maybe he is the best SS available but that says a lot about this free agency class. I would have much rather signed a defensive minded short stop for a year, kept the pick, and let whoever and Lowrie battle it out for short. If he plays like he did this year fine, but I just don’t see anything in his past that indicated he’ll be capable of it again.
"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.
some of the advanced stats on him are amazing
first in the american league last year in fewest swings on pitches outside the zone, first in AL in making contact, second in lowest percentage of swings taken. he showed incredible discipline at the plate last year, and thats encouraging for next year.
That's definitely needed
Ellsbury’s finally starting to become a little more patient, but we definitely need someone at the top of the lineup who will get on base.
…speaking of this, since I’m honestly not too knowledgeable on Scutaro, how’s his speed and where has he historically fit into the lineup? For some reason, I have him in my mind as a lead-off, but I may be way out in left field on that one. Any help?
Every game he played for the Jays in '09
Was at leadoff.
With that said, he’s probably the team’s No. 8 or No. 9 hitter.
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Agreed
I see him batting 9th, or 8th when Tek plays:
Ells, Pedroia, Martinez, Youk, [Bay/Holliday?], Ortiz, Lowell, Drew, Scutaro
(btw, Drew is the best #8 hitter in baseball)
Scutaro has the potential to be the best #9 I'd think.
Though, again, so could Ellsbury depending on the OBP situation.
USG
Drew would also be the best #7 as well
but I guess if you want to keep that L-R order..
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My problem
Isn’t that he was good this season, he was pretty good both with the bat and in the field. My issue is that he’s been in the league since 2002 and never stood out until he was 34 years old.
"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.
The whole "Career Year" thing could just as easily apply to last year too (if WAR is to be believed)
With more playing time over the past two years he’s gotten better each year. Maybe, just maybe, if you let him start and give him plenty of playing time, he’ll be able to keep his improved plate discipline and average defense and we can come out of this ahead for once.
DFA Beckett
by South Coast Ghost on Dec 4, 2009 2:01 AM EST up reply actions
Three words
Not. Bobby. Crosby.
Rock me, sexy Jesus...
by nuthinboutnuthin on Dec 4, 2009 2:50 AM EST reply actions
it's a 2 year stop gap. I can live with it
Miguel Cabrera IS the solution to our problems.
Release Jason Varitek before ST is over !
Do not pay Jason Bay !!
Trade Buchholz !!!
In today's baseball market
it’s not a sure thing he’ll be here for two years.
Introducing the new 2008 Big 12 Football Champions: OU, UT*, TT*, and MU*!
Now Introducing the new 2009 Big 12 Baseball Tournament Champions: UT, KSU*, BU*, and MU*!
We have nobody else ready yet.
Jed’s going to get dealt. Jamie Carroll will be our backup guy.
Miguel Cabrera IS the solution to our problems.
Release Jason Varitek before ST is over !
Do not pay Jason Bay !!
Trade Buchholz !!!
I guess what I meant to say was
who’s to say there won’t be a Victor Martinez trade sometime in the next two years?
Introducing the new 2008 Big 12 Football Champions: OU, UT*, TT*, and MU*!
Now Introducing the new 2009 Big 12 Baseball Tournament Champions: UT, KSU*, BU*, and MU*!
Scutaro will be a bust like Lugo.
Scutaro has 1 good year and he is suddenly the answer to the Sox SS problems. They thought the same thing about Lugo and Lugo had better stats than Scutaro. Lugo was also 4 years younger when he signed with The Sox. Just hope Boston doesn’t waste nearly 27 mil on Scoot like they did on Julio.
have you paid attention at all?
no one has said he was the ultimate answer, but that he’s an acceptable stopgap. They’ve committed $12.5 million to him, no reason to speculate that they might commit 27 million to him.
it's obvious you just type to read your own musings
because anyone with half a brain that read what you contributed just made fun of you.
Miguel Cabrera IS the solution to our problems.
Release Jason Varitek before ST is over !
Do not pay Jason Bay !!
Trade Buchholz !!!
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