Marco Scutaro

Word yesterday was that Giants 2nd baseman Marco Scutaro, who missed almost all the 2014 season with back problems, had undergone spinal fusion surgery in Miami. One of the sparkplugs of San Francisco's 2012 World Championship team, Scuatro was voted 2012 NLCS MVP. He was enjoying another big season in 2013, where he was named to the All Star Team, before a broken finger cut his year short (he was on the shelf when I caught this picture in the visitor's dugout at Citi Field in September '13). But 2014 was a disaster: he played in just five games -- and while he was on the disabled list, watched rookie Joe Panik more than just fill in, but take a firm grip on the 2nd base job as the Giants won their third title in five years.
Now 39, Scutaro's contract has another guaranteed season. But with a six-month recovery time from the surgery, I wouldn't expect him to be much more than bench strength if he's able to get back on the field.

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