Mets Interested In Alex Cora

smart idea. Cora is a solid defensive guy and can move all around the Infield if needed. He won't hit much, but he is one of the best utility infielders around.

The Mets are starting to scare me with making intelligent moves. This could make 3 in 1 week.

"He is a good little player Mets fans, I am not sure why Sox are not interested in him at this point."

...because Lugo will probably end up in a utility role, and the Red Sox don't need two utility IF. If you're talking White Sox, Betemit is their utility man.

"...because Lugo will probably end up in a utility role, and the Red Sox don't need two utility IF. If you're talking White Sox, Betemit is their utility man. "

This is, regrettably true. Epstein is moving forward with the very realistic notion that we'll be stuck with Lugo for the season. It's a gamble either way. We could CONCEIVABLY carry both a good defensive backup and Lugo, but then you run the risk of not moving him OR Lowell if we actually manage to net Teixeira. No sense carrying seven infielders.

Could do much worse, he's a pretty poor hitter but as a utility guy, I like it for the Mets to not have to rely on Argenis Reyes and Co.

Mets fans should be happy with this potential pickup. Cora is a great clubhouse guy and he can do some things in the field to help a team. While his range has slipped a bit in recent years, you can be comfortable knowing that just about anything hit within his reach will be played cleanly. He also puts together solid at bats. He can lay a bunt down and advance runners and work the pitch count. In terms of utility guys, he's a good one to have around as long as you don't have to lean on him for too much.

Cora has a reputation for being one of the smartest players in the game and an above average defensive option at SS and second.

Having watched him for 3.5 season though, I'll tell you that his '08 spike in BA and OPB is definitely a function of small sample size. I'll also add that Cora had potential to earn more playing time when Pedroia struggled early in his career and, to a lesser extent, when Lugo went down last year.

He is a solid backup, but not a fallback plan.