Oakland Athletics super-sub Marco Scutaro was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday for a pair of minor league pitchers, right-handers Kristian Bell and Graham Godfrey. The 32-year-old Scutaro did a fabulous job filling in for both second baseman Mark Ellis and shortstop Bobby Crosby when they were hurt in recent seasons. But the A’s, who missed the playoffs in 2007 after reaching the AL championship series last year, want to give Donnie Murphy a chance to be a utility infielder.
Scutaro, who developed quite the knack for game-winning hits during his four years with the A’s, batted .260 with seven home runs and 41 RBIs in 104 games this past season. He made 86 starts at five different positions, including 38 at shortstop, 33 at third base, 12 at second base, two in right field and one in left field.
Murphy, 24, has played parts of three seasons in the majors, his first two with the Kansas City Royals in 2004 and ’05. This year for the A’s, he batted .220 with six home runs and 21 RBIs in 42 games. He also had eight doubles and drew 10 walks.
Bell went 3-7 with a 5.33 ERA in 22 appearances and 11 starts for Single-A Dunedin last season. Godfrey had a 6-7 record and 3.98 ERA in 21 starts for Single-A Lansing in his first year of professional ball.
Tags: marco scutaro