Cora close to deal with Mets (split from Hot Stove 2009)

[smg58]

http://fullcount.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/2009/11/30/cora-close-to-deal-with-mets/

Oh great. Another $2M for this guy? While I appreciate the fact that he played hurt last year, there's no reason to think he's even an upgrade over Anderson Hernandez, who's making the league minimum.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Cora close to deal with Mets 11.30.09 at 1:11 pm ET By Rob Bradford According to a source familiar with the negotiations, former Red Sox infielder Alex Cora is close to a one-year deal with a vesting option for second with the New York Mets. The deal, which would guarantee the 34-year-old the same $2 million he made in �09 during at least the initial year of the contract, is expected to be finalized upon Cora passing a physical. Cora played in 82 games with the Mets in �09 before injuries cut short his season. He hit .251 for the season, playing 56 games at shortstop, 19 at second base and one at first base. Cora spent most of the year trying to play with torn ligaments in both thumbs. His right thumb was the first to endure injury in mid-May, and his production steadily declined over the year. With Jose Reyes out, Cora became the Mets� primary shortstop early in the year, hitting .333 with a .435 OBP and .886 OPS in 66 plate appearances prior to his right thumb injury. After returning from the D.L., he hit .232/.290/.277/.567 before undergoing season-ending surgery in mid-August. He ended 2009 with a .251/.320/.310/.630 line. Cora played in parts of four seasons with the Red Sox before becoming a free agent following the 2008 season. Though the Red Sox are still in the market for a shortstop, they did not express interest in bringing Cora back to Boston.

[metirish]

One of the lasting memories for me of last season was the guys in the booth constantly praising Cora for " going out there every night" playing hurt. It became something I resented hearing on a nightly basis.

Seems like a nice deal he got.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I don't mind him coming back. He did a decent job as a backup, and it's not his fault that he was asked to play more frequently than his ability warranted.

The $2 million does seem high, though. I'd be concerned about that if I knew that the Mets were going to be on a strict budget this winter, but there are so many conflicting reports that that's far from certain.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I know you resented it, but that was largely because there was so little else to praise.

I think there is reason to think he can play better than Anderson Hernandez, and the redundancy of having both of them serves better than only having one.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

... with a vesting option for a second with the New York Mets.

This... this does not settle my stomach. This team is not so good with making these.

[metirish]

I know you resented it, but that was largely because there was so little else to praise.
[/quote:1c4c61mh]


I'll buy that, not his fault.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

... with a vesting option for a second with the New York Mets.

This... this does not settle my stomach. This team is not so good with making these.

[Frayed Knot]

Depends on how the vesting option vests I suppose. If it's some sort of tap-in minimum thrown in there simply so they can claim that it's a one-year deal then they're being stupid.

But, if not, while I know he wasn't exactly a fan favorite in Met-ville numbers like his are essentially what those from backup SS looks like.
I've never been much of an Andy Handy fan and he also hasn't played much SS over the last two years.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I don't like Andy Handy either.

Cora was actually OK for the Mets until he was asked to play everyday. Then, his veteran leaderliness took over when he not only played everyday but played hurt everyday. He couldn't do it, and we really went into the shitter.

That's why generally I'd prefer my bench players be younger than older, and not as far removed from everyday jobs as Cora is/was.

[Guest Edgy DC]

You really have to appreciate Rob Bradford (was he between Elizabeth and Joanie?) taking the time to present the slash stats before and after the injury.

Did Cora and Reyes get injured the same night or on consecutive nights?

I wish the Mets went for my plan and moved everybody over on the defensive spectrum --- Murphy to third and Wright to short. It probably would have been a different sort of disaster, but... sack up and play, boys.

[Gwreck]

Typical Omar -- once again keeping a bench player too long.

See:
Anderson, Marlon
Castro, Ramon
Franco, Julio

[nymr83]

I don't like Cora (or rather his baseball skills), but he could have easily said "I'm hurt, i'm not playing" and collected his paycheck at a time when the Mets were very short on warm bodies. If this is his "thank you" for being a loyal soldier thats fine, as long it doesnt hurt the budget on getting the help this team really needs.

[Valadius]

Last I checked, $2 million was the league average.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I don't like Cora (or rather his baseball skills), but he could have easily said "I'm hurt, i'm not playing" and collected his paycheck at a time when the Mets were very short on warm bodies. If this is his "thank you" for being a loyal soldier thats fine, as long it doesnt hurt the budget on getting the help this team really needs.[/quote:37w8lg6c]

Well, I admire his pluck too but it wasn't long until he was worse than a warm body. That's the Mets' fault for underestimating the severity of Reyes' injury.

What gets me is that by giving the guy a few million, they've set the same potential situation up all over again if Reyes gets hurt again: Ask the old guy to do more than he's up to until he gets hurt too.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Well, in his case, he got hurt immediately after Reyes.

I wouldn't be surprised to hear that he was getting a thank you last year. And I don't mind bench players kept around until they fail. Everybody fails. I just want to know that the alternatives are ready to step in quickly.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Last I checked, $2 million was the league average.[/quote:qckc9dkq]

Low by 50%. Before rosters expanded in September, the average big league salary was $2,996,000. It'll clearly crack three by opening day.

[duan]

you can't blame Cora for being prepared to play with a busted thumb, that's fucking sore and admirable on every level.
you CAN blame the manager and/or the GM for not having a better plan to deal with it. He was doing something which actually have could hurt his long term career potential to do what he could for a team in the mire.

As for the deal, it's ok - same as everyone else, if that's the two million that they can't then use to find a legitmate corner OF with than it's a problem but otherwise i'd give you odds that his eqa will be as good as Scutaro's next year and he'll earn a lot more money.

[Valadius]

Last I checked, $2 million was the league average.[/quote:1a0tbvt2]

Low by 50%. Before rosters expanded in September, the average big league salary was $2,996,000. It'll clearly crack three by opening day.[/quote:1a0tbvt2]

Clearly I haven't checked in a while.

[metirish]

You are forgiven Val, it's obvious now that you have been busy readying the new strategy for Afghanistan.