Marco Scutaro to be traded to the Colorado Rockies?

Published: 20^th Jan 12 5:09 pm

Matt Sullivan
Sully

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Mark L. Baer-US PRESSWIRE

Update (9:15 PM): Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald is now saying that this deal isn’t going to happen. He adds that the team may be trying to clear additional payroll space in order to sign a free agent pitcher. Moving Scutaro would free up $6.5M in payroll.

Update (6:15 PM) : Renck is now reporting that talks are fizzling out. Boston is hesitant to deal Scutaro without a clear alternatives at short. With the Rockies shopping for second base options, it would not be surprising if this comes up again, but first Boston would either need to find a shortshop to replace Scutaro or Colorado would need to take interest in Aviles.

Troy Renck of the Denver Post has reported that the Colorado Rockies are close to acquiring Marco Scutaro. There is no word yet as to what the Red Sox will get in return. Scutaro has been with the Red Sox for the past two seasons and played well in that time, with a .284/.343/.401 batting line and solid defense at short stop.

With Troy Tulowitzki at short and signed long term, theRockieswill likely move Scutaro to second base replacing Mark Ellis who left for the Dodgers. The Rockies have a few players that could possibly fit into Boston’s plans. Colorado recently acquired two young arms in Josh Outman and Guillermo Moscoso from the Oakland Athletic for outfielder Seth Smith. The team is now well stocked with young, yet inexperienced pitchers and has been dealing pitchers left and right. Not long after acquiring Outman and Moscoso, theRockiesdealt Kevin Slowly, acquired from the Twins this off-season for minor league pitcher Daniel Turpen. The currently has a rotation that will included Jhoulys Chacin, Jorge De La Rosa , Jason Hammell and some combination of Outman, Moscoso, Drew Pomeranz, minor league signee Jaime Moyer and Clayton Mortenson.

The team also has some relievers who may be of interest to the Red Sox, though with Lowrie gone and Mike Aviles and Nick Punto the primary options at short, I would hope that Boston would get more than just one reliever in this deal.

We will have more as this story breaks.