NewsFilings have Jays thinking shortstop
Scutaro, McDonald leave Jays' options vacant for now
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com
11/06/09 9:07 PM EST
TORONTO -- Marco Scutaro and John McDonald both filed for free agency on Friday, leaving the shortstop position vacant on the Blue Jays' depth chart. Toronto needs to add a starting shortstop for 2010 and the club might try to bring back one or both of the veteran free agents.Scutaro and McDonald took the necessary step toward the open market one day after Blue Jays first baseman Kevin Millar also filed the appropriate paperwork with the league office. Catcher Rod Barajas is the only eligible free agent for Toronto yet to file. All teams have exclusive negotiating rights with their own free agents until Nov. 20, when other clubs can begin offering contracts to any free agents.
Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos has indicated that Toronto has interest in retaining Scutaro and McDonald, but the organization will weigh all its options. Playing a role in the Blue Jays' decision could be the fact that the 34-year-old Scutaro is coming off a career year that led to him being classified as a Type A free agent this winter.
That is something the Blue Jays did not anticipate when they traded for Scutaro -- a career utility man prior to last season. In his second year with Toronto, the shortstop and leadoff man thrived as a full-time player, hitting .282 with a .379 on-base percentage and career bests in home runs (12), doubles (35), RBIs (60), stolen bases (14), walks (90) and runs scored (100).
If Toronto offers Scutaro arbitration and he declines and signs with another team, the Jays would be in line to receive a pair of compensatory picks (potentially a first-round selection and a sandwich pick between the first and second rounds) in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft. With the Jays possibly heading into a rebuilding period, the club might try to take advantage of Scutaro's current value.
The 35-year-old McDonald made $1.9 million in 2009 in the final season under a two-year contract, but the veteran infielder had limited playing time. McDonald's 151 at-bats and 35 starts were his fewest since he played for Cleveland in 2004. McDonald -- known more for his skill on defense than at the plate -- hit .258 with four homers and 13 RBIs over 73 games.
Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
