Jays Acquire Scutaro for Bell, Godfrey

InsideTheDome has learned that the Toronto Blue Jays acquired infielder Marco Scutaro from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for RHP Graham Godfrey and RHP Kristian Bell.

Scutaro, 32, hit .260 in 2007 for the Oakland Athletics in 104 games with 13 doubles, seven home runs and 41 RBI. The 5-10, 186 lb. native of San Felipe, Venezuela has appeared in a combined 551 Major League games for the New York Mets (2002-2003) and Oakland (2004-2007). The right-handed hitter is a career .259 hitter with 92 doubles, 31 home runs, 174 runs batted in, and has an on-base percentage of .320. Scutaro has played second base, third base, shortstop and the outfield and owns a career fielding percentage of .979.

Godfrey, 23, posted a 6-7 record with a 3.98 ERA in 21 starts for the Lansing Lugnuts of the Midwest League (A). The 6’3”, 205 lb. right-hander recorded 74 strikeouts in 110 2/3 innings with 132 hits, 36 walks and eight home runs.

Bell, 23, spent the 2007 season with Dunedin of the Florida State League (A) where he posted a 3-7 record in 22 games with 11 starts and an ERA of 5.33. The 6-1, 190 lb. right-hander allowed 89 hits in 77 2/3 innings with nine home runs, 28 walks and 46 strikeouts.

The Jays also outrighted Hector Luna, Pedro Lopez and Mike Gosling to Syracuse, which lowered their 40-man roster size to 38.