Scutaro has mixed emotions about leaving Rockies
Second baseman Marco Scutaro went 1-for-4 with a double in the eighth inning in what turned out to be his final at-bat with the Colorado Rockies. After a 3-0 loss to the Reds, the Rockies traded Scutaro and cash to the San Francisco Giants for minor league infielder Charlie Culberson, who was pulled from Triple-A Fresno's game in the fourth. Scutaro has about $2 million left on his $6 million contract this season.
Scutaro, 36, hit .271 in 95 games for the Rockies with four homers and 30 RBI. The deal comes one week after the Rockies traded Jeremy Guthrie to the Royals for left-hander Jonathan Sanchez in a swap of disappointing pitchers.
General manager Dan O'Dowd acquired Scutaro in January from the Red Sox for pitcher Clayton Mortensen. At the time, O'Dowd hailed the acquisition of Scutaro as one of several in the offseason for a veteran who would help change the clubhouse mix.
But the Rockies are a disappointing 37-61, and with the second-worst record in the National League, O'Dowd is looking to sell off parts.
"I've never been traded before during the season. I really had fun here," Scutaro said. "I really liked it here. Unfortunately, the season didn't go the way we expected in the beginning. That's the way baseball is.
"It's a business and I get to go to a first-place team. It's kind of nice because all the work you put in in the offseason is to try to get a chance to play in the playoffs. I think I'm going to have that kind of opportunity with that team."
Scutaro can be a free agent after the season and said he would be eager to return to the Rockies next year. That doesn't figure to happen because of the arrival of impressive rookie shortstop Josh Rutledge, who is hitting .347 (17-for-49) in 13 games with five doubles, two triples, one homer and six RBI.
Rutledge has been starting at shortstop in place of injured Troy Tulowitzki, who is expected to return at some point in August after undergoing surgery June 21 to remove scar tissue that was irritating a nerve in his left groin area. Rutledge began playing second base in the instructional league last fall and after getting more experience at the position during spring training, he got some game experience at second at Double-A Tulsa before his July 13 promotion to the Rockies.
When Tulowitzki returns, Rutledge will move to second base and is expected to be the regular at that position next season.
