DENVER – The Colorado Rockies acquired infielder Marco Scutaro from the Boston Red Sox for right-hander Clayton Mortensen on Saturday in a surprising trade that could pave the way for top prospect Jose Iglesias to take over at shortstop sooner than expected.

Scutaro, 36, hit a career-high .299 last season, when he had seven homers, 26 doubles, 54 RBI and a .358 on-base percentage. Boston picked up his $6 million option in October.

Scutaro was expected to remain Boston’s starting shortstop this season but he will play second base and bat second in Colorado, where the Rockies also have added Michael Cuddyer and Ramon Martinez in an offseason makeover following last year’s disappointing slide.

Mortensen, 26, went 2-4 with a 3.86 ERA in 16 games between the Rockies’ rotation and their bullpen last season. He provides depth for a Boston rotation that will be without injured starters John Lackey and Daisuke Matsuzaka.

The Rockies targeted Scutaro for months, and taking on his $6 million contract gives the Red Sox financial flexibility to make a run at free-agent pitcher Roy Oswalt.

Shortstop has been a trouble spot in Boston since Nomar Garciaparra was traded to the Cubs in 2004. Orlando Cabrera filled the position the rest of that year, but he was followed by Edgar Renteria, Alex Gonzalez, Julio Lugo, Gonzalez again and Scutaro; Jed Lowrie, Nick Green and Alex Cora have also been in the mix.

Scutaro provided two years of stability after signing with Boston as a free agent following the 2009 season. Now he’s gone, too.

Iglesias, 22, appeared in 10 games for the Red Sox last year, getting two hits in six at-bats. A slick fielder who has struggled at the plate, he batted .235 with a homer and 31 RBI in 101 games for Triple-A Pawtucket last year. In two minor league seasons since he defected from Cuba, Iglesias has a paltry .308 on-base percentage and .316 slugging percentage.

Still, his defense is considered outstanding and the Red Sox have been grooming him as their shortstop of the future.

Other options for Boston include versatile veterans Mike Aviles and Nick Punto. Both have plenty of big league experience at shortstop, but they were expected to fill utility roles this season.

• Pitcher Daniel Bard and the Red Sox reached agreement on a one-year contract and avoided salary arbitration.

Bard and the Red Sox settled at $1,612,500, the midpoint between the $1,825,000 he asked for and the $1.4 million the Red Sox offered. He made $505,000 last season.

Bard, 26, went 2-9 with one save and a 3.33 ERA last season. He excelled as a setup man for Jonathan Papelbon until faltering in the final month.

COMPENSATION: After three months, the Theo Epstein compensation dispute finally has landed on Commissioner Bud Selig’s desk. He essentially had ordered the Cubs and Red Sox to settle it between themselves, and isn’t happy he has been dragged into a decision that is going to upset a fan base in Chicago or Boston, if not both.

Red Sox President Larry Lucchino wants at least one top prospect from the Cubs.