Red Sox finalize Marco Scutaro trade with Colorado

As Troy Renck of the Denver Post first reported late Friday afternoon, the Colorado Rockies finally got their second baseman in the form of Marco Scutaro from the Boston Red Sox.  It only took one extra day.

The rumors broke Friday that the two teams were working on a deal involving Scutaro but was apparently dismantled when the Red Sox had concerns over who would play shortstop this season.  Well, the two sides again engaged in talks today and the deal is now finalized.  Scutaro heads to Colorado while the Red Sox receive relief pitcher Clayton Mortenson in return.

According to ESPN’s Jim Bowden, the Rockies had to make room to their current payroll before agreeing to the deal. Scutaro is set to earn $6 million this season, a club option picked up by the Red Sox earlier this off season.

This is an interesting deal for Boston.  They free up space with moving Scutaro and this may now allow them to go out and sign a free-agent pitcher or perhaps a right fielder.

In Mortenson, the Sox are getting a 26-year old right handed reliever who has spent time in St. Louis, Oakland and Colorado.  His career numbers don’t have a lot of meat behind them, only 95.0 innings over three seasons.  His career ERA is 5.12, his WHIP is 1.495 and his walk ratio is almost as high as his strikeout ratio: 3.7/9 to 4.7/9.  Mortenson is likely headed for AAA for some additional work as the Sox bullpen could become crowded out of Spring Training.

More importantly for Boston is the big question now: who plays shorstop?  Nick Punto and Mike Aviles are big league ready, albeit don’t have the offense prowess that Scutaro has.  Jose Igelsias is close to being ready, but his plate discipline and knowledge needs some refining.

A platoon of Aviles and Punto is a possibility for the short-term, providing Iglesias can prove he’s ready for the job by mid June. If not, there is still the possibility of trades from now until July and as this latest deal proves, anything can happen at anytime. Just when we thought Cherington was likely done tinkering he goes and pulls a rabbit out of a hat.

This is clearly a set-up move to acquire a larger salary.  Edwin Jackson, Roy Oswalt and even Cody Ross are possibilities to end up in a Red Sox uniform now.  As a long shot, so too might is Yoennis Cespedes.

Stay tuned, as it appears the Red Sox hot stove still has some fire burning in it with another deal or signing likely in the shortcoming.

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