The Boston Red Sox traded their opening day shortstop, Marco Scutaro, to the Colorado Rockies for some bullpen help in the form of Clayton Mortensen.
Scutaro was never a great fantasy option, but over the last three years he’s been a serviceable fill-in when your team’s starting shortstop was either hurt or has a day off. Scutaro ranked 16th among all shortstops last season despite appearing in just 113 games. In 2009 with the Blue Jays and 2010 with the Red Sox, both full seasons, Scutaro finished the year ranked 99th and 170th overall, respectively. All of a sudden he’s found his power stroke, and it’s been a boon to his fantasy value.
Fenway Park was built for Scutaro as he had just enough pop to consistently put the ball off the Green Monster. In his first year with the Red Sox, Scutaro set a new career best by doubling 38 times. Last season he was on pace for 35 doubles over a projected 150-game season.
But, despite how great Fenway was for Scutaro, he finds himself in a better situation in Colorado. Scutaro spent most of his time batting seventh, eighth and ninth in the Red Sox lineup. Ninth was actually a good spot because it meant he was followed by Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia when the lineup turned over, but seventh and eighth weren’t so nice with the likes of Jarrod Saltalamacchia and [insert random outfielder] batting behind him. In Colorado, Scutaro will likely bat second. That means Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki will be driving him in all season. We could see another 100 runs for the underrated shortstop.
To top it all off, Scutaro will be playing second base for the Rockies and that will mean he’ll earn the coveted double infielder eligibility.
In the short term, Nick Punto and Mike Aviles are the primary benefactors in Boston. They’ll rotate at shortstop (and likely be marginally useful in fantasy leagues) until top prospect Jose Iglesias is ready to contribute. Iglesias is known for his glove and not for his bat, so even when he makes the big club he’ll probably be a fantasy non-factor. He reminds me of a Jemile Weeks with less speed and zero power. He won’t be good for much.
As for Mortensen…eh, whatever.
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