Yardbarker: Alex Cora

New York Mets Already Clinch Expected Offseason Victory

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:30:30 -0500

The Mets Swift, Bold Free Agent Shopping Spree: It’s hard not to laugh at what the Mets have done so far this offseason. First, they re-signed the meaningless Alex Cora for one year at $2 million plus performance bonuses. Shortly after, they swooped in with an impressively shrewd heist of two aging, no-name backup catchers [...]

Wanted: Evidence of a Plan

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:36:11 -0500

Let's get the caveats out of the way early on this one. It's December 2, not even officially winter. The hot stove is barely beginning to glow. And Greg and I have long been proud to think that we don't overreact to things. As the timing of the Johan Santana trade made clear, you don't know anything about the offseason until it's completed, and no club tips its hand about its plan. But after a comically dysfunctional season that can't be revisited for fear of vio...

CLUELESS IN FLUSHING

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:42:40 -0500

Oh boy lot’s of stuff to ponder today so let’s have at it: METS SIGN ALEX CORA AND CHRIS COSTE Alex Cora is what he is, a backup infielder who most people around the Mets claim is a positive influence in the clubhouse and a manager in waiting. One more name to add to the “who will succeed Jerry Manuel by Memorial Day” list. What I can’t get through my thick skull is the amount of money and contract he received, 1yr with an option for 2011 and $2mil. Now 2 mil to the Mets is nothing but what...

NYDN’s Spector : $2 Million For Cora Is “Insane”

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:45:20 -0500

Never let it be said the Mets are only concerned with peddling shirts no one wants ; over the past two days, they’ve inked former Red GM Wayne Krivsky to augment the super talent that is Omar Minaya, signed backup backstop Chris Coste, and re-upped with utility IF Alex Cora. It’s the third of [...]

Cora Applesauce - Mets re-sign Cora, snag a perpetual Phillie, add Krivsky, rare Seaver video

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:10:58 -0500

Maybe Omar signed Cora to such an obscene contract because he's next in line to be manager when Jerry gets canned in June. Meet the Mets Omar fired the opening shots in his offseason plan, unfortunately they involved a $2 million contract for Alex Cora (with a vesting option!) and signing backup catcher Chris Coste. The reaction to the Cora signing was almost universally negative. Adam Bernacchio points out that the White Sox signed both Omar Vizquel and Andruw Jones&nbs...

The Importance of Alex Cora

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:10:00 -0500

$2 million dollars.Doesn't seem like much (in baseball terms), does it? Well, in this case, $2 million dollars brought the Mets Alex Cora, a utility infielder with a great leadership pedigree, but limited offensive and defensive ability. Sure, there are some who will bitch and moan about the Mets spending $2 million on a backup middle infielder, but to me, this move is a strong statement by the Mets front office.And here's why. In 2009, shortstop Jose Reyes missed nearly the entire se...

Nice To Have Cora Back But What’s With This Contract?

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:40:09 -0500

The Mets resigned free agent infielder Alex Cora yesterday. The deal calls for Cora to be paid $2 million for the 2010 season. I like this deal on the surface but when you break it down it looks pretty bad. $2 million for a backup. Cora is a backup middle infielder whose recent experience [...]

The Real Problem With The Alex Cora Deal

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:00:26 -0500

by Kathy Willens - AP View full size photo » Well we all knew this was coming; the writing was on the wall, and it read: "ELMER WUZ HERE." Out of resignation for the inevitable, I recounted the positives of Alex Cora--in short, plate discipline and the chance of non-embarrassing fielding. Many people will abuse his UZR/150 stats and refuse to recognize the role injury played in slowing his b...

Why do the Mets over-value mediocre role players?

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:52:31 -0500

Now that Alex Cora has signed a $2, possibly $3 million contract, he becomes the latest player in recent years to receive a contract that makes no sense for what he will hopefully accomplish. Why is it that the Mets...

Mets re-sign infielder Alex Cora

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:44:12 -0500

The Mets have re-signed Alex Cora to a $2 million deal. Of course, they had to include a bunch of bonuses possible so they can end up spending even more on a mediocre backup. Don't get me wrong, Cora has...

Backup infielder Alex Cora agrees to return to New York Mets

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:36:46 -0500

Alex Cora is staying with the New York Mets, agreeing to a $2 million, one-year contract.

Cora agrees to one-year deal to stay with Mets

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:31:00 -0500

Alex Cora is staying with the New York Mets, agreeing to a $2 million, one-year contract.

Cora close to returning...

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:52:00 -0500

Reports indicate that the Mets are close to a deal for Alex Cora, if the reports are accurate it's a one year deal for 2MM with a vesting option for the second year.Look, I'm not going to make a big deal about this but 2MM for a weak hitting middle infielder with limited range seems expensive. I know he's a great clubhouse guy and the Mets think he's basically a coach on the field but they could have spent half as much on an all glove no bat guy like Wilson Valdez for the benc...

Mets Re-Sign Alex Cora Pending Physical

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:19:09 -0500

Rob Bradford of WEEI in Boston. is reporting that the Mets are awaiting the results of a physical before officially announcing that they have signed infielder Alex Cora to a one year deal for $2 million dollars. The deal also includes a vesting option that could guarantee a second year if Cora reaches a minimum number of [...]

Re-Signing Alex Cora

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 05:46:30 -0500

More photos » by Denis Poroy - AP 3 months ago: New York Mets' Alex Cora, right, follows through on a single as San Diego Padres catcher Eliezer Alfonzo, left, looks on during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) Browse more photos » Last season, Alex Cora was a replacement level player (literally 0 WAR), but earned $2 million. Many fans,...