ESPN’s Buster Olney gives the specifics of shortstop Marco Scutaro’s contract with the Boston Red Sox. Essentially, Scutaro is guaranteed $12.5 million dollars over two years ($5 million ’10, $5 million in ’11, with a $1 million signing bonus, and $1.5 million buyout on a ’12 mutual option).
The 34 year-old Scutaro is coming off a career year offensively with 12 HR, 60 RBI, .282 BA, 100 R, and .379 OBP in 2009. However, he is a career .265 BA/.337 OBP/.384 SLG. Defensively, Scutaro had an UZR of .9, which puts him as an average defensive shortstop.
In 2009, 35 year-old shortstop Orlando Cabrera hit 9 HR, 77 RBI, .284 BA, 83 R, .316 OBP, but post a .275 BA/.322 OBP/.398 SLG for his career. Cabrera, a traditionally good fielder struggled last year with an UZR of -13.7, the worst of the two-time Gold Glove winner’s career.
Wouldn’t you rather have Cabrera than Scutaro? Especially since there is a good chance Cabrera will be one of those free agent bargains such as Bobby Abreau last year. For his career, Scutaro is average at best. In this economy, why would a team (even the Red Sox) guarantee $12.5 million dollars to an at best average player?
Espn’s Peter Gammons wrote that Red Sox’s second basemen Dustin Pedroia was willing to move to shortstop. Wouldn’t moving Pedroia to shortstop and going after one of the many available second basemen (Orlando Hudson, Mark DeRosa, Brandon Phillips, Luis Castillo, and Placido Polanco) be a better idea? Defensively Pedroia would not be any worse than Scutaro and any of the second basemen that are/were available via free agency or trade would be better than Scutaro.
What do you think. Did the Red Sox mess up?
This is not the wisest move by Theo Epstein and Co. I think he will eventually become an expensive back up.
Scutaro’s numbers should stay up with a good redsox lineup. In the Red Sox defense on not moving Pedroia, they are probably figuring they would rather have a great 2nd baseman with a solid shortstop. Although most great middle infielders should be able to swap positions it can be tough if pedroia lacks arm strength in the hole, has problems reading the ball off the bat, different pivot when turning 2, etc. In my mind I would rather have 1 great and 1 solid as opposed to taking a chance on moving a player and being left with 2 solid players.
Classic example of a player cashing in on a career year…
Eh…it was definitely his best year in his career but he had a couple good years with the A’s and look at every team he has played with…besides a few years with the A’s where they went to the playoffs a few years in the row he has been on terrible teams. I expect similar numbers, if not better, with the red sox
A couple of good years with the A’s? How can you have a couple of good years when you have a career .265 BA/.337 OBP/.384 SLG, with average defense (and that is being generous on the defense)? This guy, other than last year, has sub written all over him.
Amalie Benjamin reports Scutaro said he took less $ to win a championship.
If he is a sub than is soriano a sub as well? The guy doesn’t do anything pretty but gets the job done
Scutaro and Soriano should not be compared. Here are Soriano’s career stats based on a 162 game average: 36 HR, 93 RBI, 31 SB, .278 BA, .326 OBP, .510 SLG. I won’t waste my time giving defensive numbers. He is a hack. Other than last year, which was Soriano’s absolute worst in the majors, he is a darn good offensive player. What is the comparison?
So scutaro is able to play more positions better than soriano and has a better OBP and only has a 13 pt difference in batting avg. as well as gets paid less in two years than soriano does in 1 year. Remember the sox are looking for guys to extend the inning and although scutaro is not Mr. OBP he does a better job than alot of “big name” players and will probably do better with the a good line up like the sox