The Red Sox have picked up the $6 million option on the contract of shortstop Marco Scutaro for 2012. Scutaro, who had a $3 million player option if Boston had passed, hit a career-best .299 for the season with seven homers and 54 RBIs. "Scutaro had a really good year and we believe he'd be very coveted this offseason if he got into the market," general manager Ben Cherington said last week.