In the NBA, we see sign-and-trades happen all the time during the offseason. In Major League Baseball, we hardly see it at all. I think the reason being there is no salary cap for a GM to try to manipulate.

Scutaro will be the new Rockies' second baseman

However, I think we saw a pseudo sign-and-trade happen this offseason in the world of MLB.

Earlier in the offseason, the Boston Red Sox picked up Scutaro’s $6 million option for 2012. This was a move that I agreed with at the time because it was Boston’s best option at the short stop position.

However, with the Red Sox adding Nick Punto and with Mike Aviles in the fold, Boston felt they had enough depth to trade away Scutaro.

The Red Sox traded Scutaro and his $6 million salary to the Colorado Rockies for RHP Clayton Mortensen. The move is expected to clear the way for the Red Sox to pursue a starting pitcher, most notably Roy Oswalt.

While Punto and Aviles in a short stop platoon is the baseball equivalent of the bottom of my shoe, the Red Sox can win with those two at the six-spot. What they can’t win with is having Alfredo Aceves and Daniel Bard as their fourth and fifth starters. In the American League East, that’s just not going to cut the mustard.

The Red Sox need another starting pitcher and Oswalt would be a perfect fit behind Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, and Clay Buchholz. If trading Scutaro means freeing up enough money to sign Oswalt or another starting pitcher, then I am all for it.

In return for Scutaro, the Red Sox get Mortensen, who has been a disappointment since being taken in the first round (37th overall) in the 2007 Draft. Mortensen has a 5.12 ERA in 95 innings at the Major League level. At 27, Boston is hoping he can find his way in a Red Sox uniform.

Scutaro is expected to play second base for the Rockies

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By The Baseball Index