Red Sox Dilemma: Pitching vs. Fielding

Who’s on short? That’s one of the immediate questions for the Boston Red Sox after trading away Marco Scutaro, who handled the spot for the team last year, batted .299 and just signed a new contract. Right now it is looking as if Abbott and Costello have the best answer because the Red Sox don’t appear to know.

Apparently the Red Sox have decided that it is more important for them to obtain a reliable starting pitcher than to have a reliable shortstop on the roster. Tricky issue. Besides, for the last decade the Red Sox have been a money-is-no-object team and now it appears that money is an obstacle in being able to keep the starting lineup intact and get that one more thrower for the rotation.

The word is that the Red Sox will use some of their savings from jettisoning Scutaro’s $6 millon contract in order to sign former Astros and Phillies hurler Roy Oswalt. Oswalt still seems like a front-line pitcher and he definitely is asking for front-line money. By trading Scutaro to the Colorado Rockies, however, the Red Sox are filling one hole at the expense of creating a new hole. In addition, the Red Sox already parted ways with Jed Lowrie, Scutaro’s back-up from 2011.

Right-handed throwing Oswalt is a free agent. He was expected to be one of the cornerstones of the Phillies’ so-called greatest pitching rotation of all-time during 2011, but finished 9-10. His earned run average was a solid 3.69. But he also went on the disabled list twice and that is likely why Philadelphia chose not to keep him.

You can never have too much pitching and the Red Sox have rarely been accused of that. But you also can’t be a playoff team without a well-balanced roster. The Red Sox have options on their roster to thrust a shortstop into the starting lineup, but no one has much of a track record in the slot. Mike Aviles started six games at short last season. Freshly acquired Nick Punto started eight games at short for the St. Louis Cardinals. Are these guys with great potential? (They are both in their 30s.) Can they handle the responsibility of fielding the most active and critical infield position without giving runs away with their gloves? Maybe they can and maybe they can’t, but the main point is that no one knows.

Scutaro didn’t make anyone forget Nomar Garciaparra at short during his two-year stay in Boston, but he did hit that career high .299. He is 36, but I would have liked to see him hang around one more year.

You have to wonder how much money Oswalt is worth if he is going to be hurt for a good chunk of the season. A healthy Oswalt could win 15 games and be a difference maker in the American League East. A frequently injured Oswalt could be a waste of money and keep the Red Sox out of the playoffs. Signing him is a gamble.

The most notable aspect of cutting ties with Scutaro and going after Oswalt is the apparent economic connection. It’s been a long time since we have heard the Red Sox express any concern about how much it might cost to put the best possible pennant contender on the field.