Red Sox Sign Marco Scutaro

[nickagneta]

At 34 years old, when players have a breakout year, they seldom ever, in the history of baseball, ever replicate them, unless they were "enhanced". Pretty sure Scutaro doesn't do PED's. Therefore, the likelihood of him being a top ten BB guy or hitting 20 points higher than his career average or hitting 70% more HRs than his previous high in HRs or stealing 100% more bases than he had ever stolen in one year before is extremely small, IMHO.

Also, unless you are a catcher, I don't see what playing different positions in the field has to do with effecting what you do at bat.

Lastly, I stand by my "pathetic" prediction because those numbers are a helluva lot closer, percentage wise, to his career averages than last years numbers were.

[MBz]

Him at SS is better then Pedroia being there defensively.  We also still do not know what we're going to get out of Lowrie.  Scutaro may only have to play about 100 games at SS this year if Lowrie can come on.

[KJ33]

At 34 years old, when players have a breakout year, they seldom ever, in the history of baseball, ever replicate them, unless they were "enhanced". Pretty sure Scutaro doesn't do PED's. Therefore, the likelihood of him being a top ten BB guy or hitting 20 points higher than his career average or hitting 70% more HRs than his previous high in HRs or stealing 100% more bases than he had ever stolen in one year before is extremely small, IMHO.

Also, unless you are a catcher, I don't see what playing different positions in the field has to do with effecting what you do at bat.

Lastly, I stand by my "pathetic" prediction because those numbers are a helluva lot closer, percentage wise, to his career averages than last years numbers were.

As a utility player, not a full-time starter at shortstop.  Sean McAdam, Lou Merloni, Michael Silverman all like the deal, but surely you know more about baseball than they do.

[Atzar]

For what it's worth, Lowrie will likely be given every chance to take Scutaro's spot away from him.  So if Scutaro does perform poorly like many predict, we do have one backup plan - which is more than I could say for this past season.  I wish Plan B wasn't quite as injury-prone as Lowrie has been thus far, but he's still better than Lugo or Nick Green. 

This is being reported as a 2-year deal, and if it is, then I don't have too much of a problem with it.  It'll probably be more than I'd like to pay for somebody who will (in my prediction) just end up being a super-sub for us, but it's still a much better situation than the one we had this year.

[nickagneta]

At 34 years old, when players have a breakout year, they seldom ever, in the history of baseball, ever replicate them, unless they were "enhanced". Pretty sure Scutaro doesn't do PED's. Therefore, the likelihood of him being a top ten BB guy or hitting 20 points higher than his career average or hitting 70% more HRs than his previous high in HRs or stealing 100% more bases than he had ever stolen in one year before is extremely small, IMHO.

Also, unless you are a catcher, I don't see what playing different positions in the field has to do with effecting what you do at bat.

Lastly, I stand by my "pathetic" prediction because those numbers are a helluva lot closer, percentage wise, to his career averages than last years numbers were.

As a utility player, not a full-time starter at shortstop.  Sean McAdam, Lou Merloni, Michael Silverman all like the deal, but surely you know more about baseball than they do.

I very well may know more about baseball than McAdams and Silverman, you knows. And what their opinions on the matter are is irrelevant as to whether Scutaro will have a another career year at the plate after having a breakout year at age 34. They might love the deal. How does that mean it's a good move. As I remember McAdamas loved the Brad Penny and John Smoltz signings too. How did that work out for the Sox?

[Cman]

I am not excited by the Marco Scutaro signing.  It brings back bad memories of when I used to attend As games when I lived in Berkeley, CA.

One person yells "MARCO"
The rest of the section responds "SCUTARO"
(like Marco Polo)
The cheese quotient was high with that cheer.  Let's hope no one replicates it at Fenway.

[Chris]

Has anyone caught if its a team option or a player option?

I read that it is a mutual option.  So it is basically a 2 year deal at big money, and probably the last deal at very small money.  So while I am not thrilled, I am OK with this.  He was by far the best SS out there, and if the Sox tried to make a trade, they would have had to pay a huge premium, because everyone knows they were desperate.  If Scutaro can give them two years of good defense (I read somewhere that his defensive stats were excellent...not that I put much stock in those), and passable hitting, then I am happy with this for a couple years...especially since I did not see anyone better on the horizon.

Hopefully now the Sox go and upgrade the middle of their lineup though. 

[yall hate]

I will reserve judgment on this until we find out how much the contract is for.

Scutaro was much better last year then ever before, but it was also his first time playing at one position for an entire year, so maybe that played a role. 

I think as long as people arent expecting a star, this will be ok...

I wonder if this will fuel the speculation that we are going after another type A free agent (Holliday), as it would seem odd to give up a first round pick for Scutaro, even with us having gotten another from the braves

[kenmaine]

Ridiculous.
I've totally lost interest in the Red Sox. Bland, bland, bland. About as colorful as their owner, and the GM is an overrated stat freak with more money to spend than anyone but the Yankees, and gets a free pass in the media even though he's made some horrendous signings.
They finally have a good shortstop(Gonzales) and let him go- twice!
It's probably only a matter of time before they get rid of Ellsbury and Papelbon, who are just a bit too flashy or exciting to fit in with this team.
And last but not least, I can't even bear to watch, nevermind root for, the $14 million part-timer in right field.

[Roy Hobbs]

At 34 years old, when players have a breakout year, they seldom ever, in the history of baseball, ever replicate them, unless they were "enhanced". Pretty sure Scutaro doesn't do PED's. Therefore, the likelihood of him being a top ten BB guy or hitting 20 points higher than his career average or hitting 70% more HRs than his previous high in HRs or stealing 100% more bases than he had ever stolen in one year before is extremely small, IMHO.

Also, unless you are a catcher, I don't see what playing different positions in the field has to do with effecting what you do at bat.

Lastly, I stand by my "pathetic" prediction because those numbers are a helluva lot closer, percentage wise, to his career averages than last years numbers were.

Even if Scutaro regresses to his 2008 numbers, that would still make him above average in terms of shortstops.  It's simply not a position where there's a ton of hitting out there.  If his numbers stay where they were last season, he'll make an impact.  If they regress to where they were two seasons ago, we still have a better-than-average guy.

I'm not in love with the idea of losing a first rounder, but in the end who knows if that prospect would ever pan out?  Also, if the Sox sign a Type A guy like Holliday, the Scutaro pick will be bumped down to a second rounder, and if we sign two Type As, it will be a third, etc., etc.

[twistedrico]

Whooo another big off season signing by TruEdited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline.nd Theo.  This is not news.

[Michael Anthony]

Expectations are key here. If we think we signed a solid defender and a good utility infielder, someone like Alex Cora, then we are in a good place. If Lowrie, Green or Iglesias takes his position in the next 1-3 seasons even better.

There was no way to make a splash at short this off season, so Theo did as best he could.

Now we need to make something happen at third and left.

[Evantime34]

I need to read up on this but if he was signed to be the short stop all season I'm not a huge fan of the deal. If he is signed to start at short but Lowrie is groomed to take over during the season I am fine with that. He is a great super sub who can play any position in the infield as well as left.
Hopefully Lowrie emerges or they fast track iglaseas (sp?)

[Chris]

At 34 years old, when players have a breakout year, they seldom ever, in the history of baseball, ever replicate them, unless they were "enhanced". Pretty sure Scutaro doesn't do PED's. Therefore, the likelihood of him being a top ten BB guy or hitting 20 points higher than his career average or hitting 70% more HRs than his previous high in HRs or stealing 100% more bases than he had ever stolen in one year before is extremely small, IMHO.

Also, unless you are a catcher, I don't see what playing different positions in the field has to do with effecting what you do at bat.

Lastly, I stand by my "pathetic" prediction because those numbers are a helluva lot closer, percentage wise, to his career averages than last years numbers were.

Even if Scutaro regresses to his 2008 numbers, that would still make him above average in terms of shortstops.  It's simply not a position where there's a ton of hitting out there.  If his numbers stay where they were last season, he'll make an impact.  If they regress to where they were two seasons ago, we still have a better-than-average guy.

I'm not in love with the idea of losing a first rounder, but in the end who knows if that prospect would ever pan out?  Also, if the Sox sign a Type A guy like Holliday, the Scutaro pick will be bumped down to a second rounder, and if we sign two Type As, it will be a third, etc., etc.

Yeah, the first rounder for Scutaro is tough (although since they will get one from the Braves, its not nearly as bad...and they could get another one if they sign Holliday and let Bay walk).

And I think another thing to remember about Scutaro offensively is that even if he is not a great hitter, he does not strike out a ton, and does a lot more of the "little things" than a guy like Gonzalez did.  He may not be a plus hitter, but he is not a minus one either. 

Ultimately, it will come down to the money, but the more I think about it, the more I like having Scutaro there to keep the seat warm for either Iglesias, or a bigger name via trade of FA in a couple of years.  Now, if they don't upgrade the order elsewhere, I will be disapointed, but for now, this is a solid move.

[yall hate]

Ridiculous.
I've totally lost interest in the Red Sox. Bland, bland, bland. About as colorful as their owner, and the GM is an overrated stat freak with more money to spend than anyone but the Yankees, and gets a free pass in the media even though he's made some horrendous signings.
They finally have a good shortstop(Gonzales) and let him go- twice!
It's probably only a matter of time before they get rid of Ellsbury and Papelbon, who are just a bit too flashy or exciting to fit in with this team.
And last but not least, I can't even bear to watch, nevermind root for, the $14 million part-timer in right field.

nice rant. factually wrong, but thats ok.

The sox did NOT spend the second most amount on payroll this year.

Gonzalez had dimished range, despite hitting well while here this year, is an offensive black hole, and is rapidly declining. 

If Papelbon goes anywhere, it will be because he is set to be paid a lot of money for a closer who throws one pitch and has a balky shoulder. 

JD Drew played in 137 games this year - hardly a part time player