According to WEEI’s Rob Bradford, the Mets are targeting free agent Alex Cora to be their utility man for ’09. Cora played shortstop and a little bit of second base for the Red Sox this year.
Alex Cora
Tigers Considering Alex Cora
According to Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers have considered pursuing free agent shortstop Alex Cora. Cora could be used in a platoon with Ramon Santiago.
Cora, 33, hit .270/.371/.349 in 179 plate appearances this year while playing a below-average shortstop. He earned $2MM.
White Sox Offseason Possibilities
I did a White Sox Offseason Outlook earlier this month, rattling off available speedy players and also suggesting a Bobby Jenks trade be explored. Today, Chicago Tribune beat writer Mark Gonzales offers his take on the Sox.
Gonzales sees Juan Uribe and Toby Hall as two players the White Sox hope to re-sign, with Hall at a lower salary than his $2.25MM option. Orlando Cabrera, Ken Griffey Jr., and Joe Crede will be gone. Cabrera is good for two draft picks if the Sox offer arbitration and he signs elsewhere.
Gonzales wonders if a Paul Konerko for Chone Figgins trade could take shape, but only if the White Sox add players. Konerko is owed $24MM for 2009-10, with full no-trade rights. Figgins should earn $5MM+ in ’09 before he hits free agency for the first time. It may be hard to get the Angels interested – Figgins fits their club, and they’ll try to re-sign Mark Teixeira. Kendry Morales may be the backup plan at first.
Gonzales sees the Rockies as another potential trade partner for Sox GM Ken Williams, naming Garrett Atkins and Willy Taveras as potential matches. Taveras may be had for a song, but Atkins should require young pitching.
A few free agents to consider: Orlando Hudson, Dennys Reyes, and Alex Cora.
Red Sox Review
Red Sox GM Theo Epstein spoke to the press yesterday, resulting in a slew of articles in the Boston papers.
Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe runs through the team’s entire 25-man roster. Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald looks at Epstein’s to-do list, as does Joe McDonald of The Providence Journal. Paul Kenyon of the Journal looks at the team’s minor free agents. An overview of various common topics:
- Jason Varitek. Silverman sees an effort to re-sign him for one or two years, while McDonald thinks he will look for three or four. Massarotti thinks things could get nasty here, with Scott Boras in the middle. Sean McAdam of the Boston Herald has an article discussing the Varitek situation.
- Julio Lugo, Jed Lowrie, Jacoby Ellsbury, Coco Crisp. Four players for two starting spots. Epstein didn’t tip his hand as to whether he’ll move any of these players and diminish the depth.
- Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, Jonathan Papelbon, Jason Bay. The Sox may explore long-term deals for each. There’s already been talks with Pedroia, though Massarotti thinks he might prefer to go year-to-year as Youkilis has. He suggests Papelbon wants a long-term deal but the Sox may choose to play it safe. McDonald and Massarotti feel the Sox will also explore an extension for Jason Bay.
- Sean Casey, Mike Timlin, Alex Cora, Mark Kotsay. Cora might go if Lugo stays. Timlin may retire. Massarotti does not think Casey will be re-signed, while McDonald doesn’t see Kotsay returning (he wants to start).
- Outside options: Epstein could make a big move, or do very little again. As I mentioned in the Offseason Outlook, C.C. Sabathia might be a better fit than Mark Teixeira.
