SportsFullCircle

The Boston Red Sox and former Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Marco Scutaro have agreed to a two-year deal with a mutual option for a third year.

- The deal is reportedly worth between $12.5 million and $17 million, depending on the 2012 option at the end of the contract. Scutaro gets $5 million in both 2010 and 2011 with a $1 million signing bonus. The Red Sox could opt to keep Scutaro through 2012 with the option for $6 million. If they decline the option, Scutaro can stay with the team in 2012 and make $3 million or leave after 2011 with a $1.5 million buyout.

- The deal will be complete pending a physical by Scutaro.

-Scutaro batted .282 last season with 12 home runs, 14 stolen bases, 60 RBI and 100 runs scored. In his eighth season, he set career highs in nearly every offensive statistic. 2009 was the first season that Scutaro made more than 600 plate appearances; he had 680, and his previous career high in a season was 592. Scutaro was 33 years old in 2009; he turned 34 just before the Yankees won the World Series.

- Scutaro is a very versatile fielder, as he has played every position excluding catcher and center field over his career, with the majority of his games played in the middle infield. He made all 143 of his starts at shortstop this past season, but was used nearly equally at second base, shortstop and third base in 2008.

- Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia volunteered to play shortstop for the team this season if it was necessary. With the signing of Scutaro, it looks as if he will remain at second while Scutaro plays shortstop in 2010.

-Scutaro is a Type-A free agent. The Red Sox will have to surrender their top draft pick to the Blue Jays because of this.