Wednesday, December 09, 2009
SCUTARO AT SHORTSTOP
Now that Chone Figgins’ contract has been finalized with the Mariners, I can post about the Red Sox signing of Marco Scutaro. Figgins, going into his age 32 season, is going to receive $9 million a year for the next four seasons plus an option to play good defense at third or second, get on base and swipe some bags. Currently, the M’s will surrender their first-round draft pick (18th overall) due to the signing as well.
It is about where I thought the market would be for Figgins based on Rafael Furcal’s $30 million over three years last winter. Hence, my feeling was that Scutaro’s per year market would be in the $7.5-8 million range and after his age 34 season, getting a two year deal. But after reading that the statistically declining 34 year-old Placido Polanco got a three year deal for $18 million, my thought was that it would take $20 million or more to sure up shortstop and could end up like the Julio Lugo and Edgar Renteria disasters.
As we know, Scutaro left guaranteed money on the table from the A’s to play in Boston at a below market yearly rate. Now, this lets Lowrie play mostly in AAA to be ready in 2011 to replace Mike Lowell at the hot corner. But back to Scutaro, he should be a two-to-three win upgrade over last season if he can post a respectable OBP as he has done lately nearly his entire career. We should not have to endure another season of suck-a-tude at short.
Now that Chone Figgins’ contract has been finalized with the Mariners, I can post about the Red Sox signing of Marco Scutaro. Figgins, going into his age 32 season, is going to receive $9 million a year for the next four seasons plus an option to play good defense at third or second, get on base and swipe some bags. Currently, the M’s will surrender their first-round draft pick (18th overall) due to the signing as well.
It is about where I thought the market would be for Figgins based on Rafael Furcal’s $30 million over three years last winter. Hence, my feeling was that Scutaro’s per year market would be in the $7.5-8 million range and after his age 34 season, getting a two year deal. But after reading that the statistically declining 34 year-old Placido Polanco got a three year deal for $18 million, my thought was that it would take $20 million or more to sure up shortstop and could end up like the Julio Lugo and Edgar Renteria disasters.
As we know, Scutaro left guaranteed money on the table from the A’s to play in Boston at a below market yearly rate. Now, this lets Lowrie play mostly in AAA to be ready in 2011 to replace Mike Lowell at the hot corner. But back to Scutaro, he should be a two-to-three win upgrade over last season if he can post a respectable OBP as he has done lately nearly his entire career. We should not have to endure another season of suck-a-tude at short.
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