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.



(mlbtraderumors.com)

Terry Francona believes Alex Cora will make a quality manager one day -- if Cora chooses to go that route -- but the veteran utility infielder still has some innings to play before he calls it a career.

According to the Detroit Free Press, Cora could be a low-cost solution at shortstop for the Tigers. Cora has not played more than 100 games since 2004 with the Dodgers, so it's possible Detroit signs him, retains part-time infielder Ramon Santiago and takes the shortstop-by-committee approach.

A more likely scenario is the Red Sox bring back Cora. The 33-year-old has played in Boston since 2005 (when the Red Sox acquired in July him from the Indians for Ramon Vazquez), knows the game and won't break the bank. He just wrapped up a two-year, $4 million deal.

(nesn.com)

Alex Cora filed for free agency today. The Red Sox now have 15 days to exclusively negotiate with Cora. If they don’t come to an agreement in the 15 days, the Red Sox lose the exclusive right and he is free negotiate with the other teams.

Cora has stated a desire to return to the Red Sox in 2009 while it’s unlikely the Red Sox will re-sign Kotsay, Byrd, Schilling and Timlin.

(soxanddawgs.com)

Mark Gonzales, of The Chicago Tribune, reports the Chicago White Sox could pursue Boston Red Sox 2B Alex Cora if 2B Juan Uribe does not return for the 2009 season.



(kffl.com)

BOSTON — If they had their choice, Sean Casey and Alex Cora both would like to play for the Red Sox again next season.

Those two, both free agents, were among the few players in the team clubhouse yesterday afternoon after the 5 a.m. arrival from Tampa.

“I love it here,” Cora said. “It’s something we’ve got to look at. … We’ll go through the right channels and see what happens.”

Cora, a favorite of manager Terry Francona and a potential manager-in-waiting, might not have control. If Julio Lugo returns, Cora could be out, since Jed Lowrie has established himself. If the Sox decide to deal Lugo, it likely would help Cora’s chances.

(projo.com)

BOSTON -- For Monday's Game 3 of the American League Championship Series, Red Sox manager Terry Francona went with his third different lineup.

The new wrinkle this time was veteran Alex Cora getting the call at shortstop in place of rookie Jed Lowrie.

Francona felt that the left-handed-hitting Cora was a better option than the switch-hitting Lowrie, who went 0-for-6 in the first two games.

Lowrie has been a far more effective hitter against lefties, so Francona thought the matchup with Tampa Bay righty Matt Garza favored Cora.

In Game 2 of the AL Division Series, Francona made the same maneuver against Angels righty Ervin Santana.

"The power righty seems like it's been more of a fit for Alex," Francona said. "I anticipate Jed being right back in there [Tuesday]. Again, sometimes you have different ways of being a good team. Sometimes you throw out the same nine, sometimes you don't."

Lowrie has been Boston's primary shortstop since Julio Lugo tore his left quad just before the All-Star break. Francona wasn't worried at all about Lowrie's confidence.

"I think Jed is smart enough to always [look at the big picture]," Francona said. "I think we're just trying to do what's best for the ballclub. But we will always make sure Jed knows that, so when he goes out to take his grounders today, he [knows] he's not being punished. We're just putting the best team out there that we can."

In 152 at-bats this season, Cora hit .275 with nine RBIs.

(mlb.com)

I didn't even know until recently that I was nearing my 1,000th career game. I've always been the type of player who takes things day-by-day, but I guess those days add up after a while.

When I first broke into the big leagues, I was very proud of that accomplishment because it's so hard to get to this level. As time went along, I just followed that day-by-day mantra. Baseball at this level is such a competitive grind that you can't afford to look too far ahead.

Initially, my focus was just to survive in the big leagues for another day, another week, another season. Now I'm closing in on 10 years.
When you start reaching milestones, you come to really appreciate all of the hard times and all of the struggles. You still have to get after it each and every day, but I also know it's important to enjoy the moment.

Reaching a longevity milestone shows a little about who you are, I think. It's a testament to your skills and to what you've accomplished, of course. But it also says something about how you go about your business.

When I look back after I retire -- hopefully that will be about 20 years from now as I track down records set by Julio Franco and Jesse Orosco -- I'll look back and reflect on all of the good times and all of the bad times.

Eventually, whatever the final number of games played is, I will consider myself most fortunate because I have a World Series ring. Not every player can say that, and that championship is the thing I'm most proud of.

I'm also proud of the versatility that I bring to a club. That's been an important factor in my career. I broke in with the Dodgers as an everyday player, more or less. They decided to let me go in 2004, and since then, I've been in more of a utility role. My ability to play different positions has helped.

My brother, Joey, played in more than 1,000 games (1,119), but reaching and surpassing his total wouldn't really mean anything. It's not like I'm competitive with him. I don't see Joey as a baseball player. Instead, I see him as my brother. I'm here because of him.

If I do get close to his number, he'll be very, very proud. It won't be a case of him saying, "Alex beat me." It would be something we would both take pride in.

Alex Cora is closing in on his 1,000th regular season games at the Major League level. He's been to the postseason three times, including the Red Sox's World Series-winning club last season. His older brother Joey is currently a coach with the White Sox.

(mlbplayers.com)

It wasn’t the lineup card Alex Cora [stats] was hoping to see. But one thing the Red Sox [team stats] utility infielder has become good at during his four seasons with the team is bracing for any circumstance.

Cora left Fenway Park [map] on Friday night knowing that just because of Julio Lugo [stats]’s injured left quadriceps, sliding into the starting spot at shortstop was anything but a certainty. It was a reality he was forced to face sooner than anticipated, with rookie Jed Lowrie getting the starting nod for the first game of what figures to be 4-6 weeks of the Sox being without Lugo.

“There is always that itch,” Cora said of his desire to play on an everyday basis. “I love what we do here and the way Tito (Francona) treats me. But sometimes we don’t hear what we have to hear, and you have to respect that.”

Francona explained right now there won’t be any firm plan of attack when it comes to utilizing the switch-hitting Lowrie and Cora.

The 32-year-old Cora figures to be in the starting lineup today, considering he owns a .407 career batting average against Baltimore starter Daniel Cabrera. But without the starting nod last night, Cora’s only chance at back-to-back starts came in the Sox series in Minnesota and Baltimore when he was inserted in the starting lineup four straight games, from May 11-14.

“Every time you send A.C. out there, you know what you’re getting,” Francona said. “You hit the ball to him, he catches it, he knows where to go and it’s reassuring. Part of our responsibility is to play him enough where he can be sharp, and we struggle through that sometimes, but this won’t be a time when it’s hard for him because he’ll play enough.”

Cora’s primary responsibility since returning from an early-season elbow injury has been to serve as a defensive replacement for Lugo. Including a late-innings appearance last night, he has now played in 35 games, 15 as the starter.

As he heads into what could be his best opportunity at carving out more playing time, Cora admitted that between his injury, and sporadic appearances in what is the final year of a two-year deal, this has been nothing like he has experienced in the past.

“It’s been more of a challenge,” Cora said. “First of all it was physically, going on the DL for the first time. Second of all, the two guys in front of me (Lugo and second baseman Dustin Pedroia [stats]) have been doing a great job, and it’s been kind of hard getting at-bats. The role is hard anyway, but it’s been tougher this year.”

With Lowrie having similar success from both sides of the plate during his time with Triple-A Pawtucket, hitting .277 from the left and .250 from the right, the immediate future might not lend itself to a straight platoon between the rookie and the left-handed-hitting Cora.

But with the memory of his two straight seasons as a starter with the Dodgers (2003-04) still fresh, Cora is angling to start walking down that same sort of path once again.

“This is what you prepare yourself for,” he said. “You’re not hoping for injuries, but if it happens you can’t let something like this deviate the team from what you want to accomplish. That is why you come and work early, for situations like this. We’ll see how it plays out.”

(bostonherald.com)

On a night where fielding took center stage, it only made sense that one of the most noteworthy developments revolved around the Red Sox [team stats]’ defensive plan of attack.

In the ninth inning of the first game in what turned into the Sox’ doubleheader sweep of the Brewers, Alex Cora [stats] came on as a defensive replacement for Julio Lugo [stats]. It is a strategy that evidently won’t be a one-time thing.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona spoke with both Cora and Lugo about the possibility of using Cora as a late-inning defensive replacement at shortstop.

“I’m ready for it,” said Cora, who started and played the entire second game. “You want to be the one making plays when it counts. Obviously, coming into a game, a close game, you want to be making a play. It’s something you have to ready for and the ball will find you.”

The strategy paid off immediately when Cora made a sensational grab on a popup in shallow left field in the ninth inning by Prince Fielder. The shortstop caught the ball basket-style with his back to the plate.

This will be the second time in Cora’s career he filled the role as late-inning defensive replacement. In 2002 with the Dodgers, he shared playing time at shortstop with Cesar Izturis, with either coming in for second baseman Mark Grudzielanek for defense.

Lugo leads all major league shortstops with 11 errors, three more than Florida’s Hanley Ramirez. His fielding percentage stands at .917, lowest among starters at his position.

The Sox’ starting shortstop did collect a hit while scoring a run in the first game, with his batting average standing at .283.

Cora did make an error in the second game, his first of the season, failing to come up with an in-between hop on a Billy Hall grounder in the seventh inning of the Sox’ 7-6 victory.

It would be one of three errors for the Sox in a game that set a new high for most errors by two teams in a single game (seven) this season.

According to a few players, not helping matters was the wear and tear the Fenway Park [map] field endured from a full day of doubleheader baseball.

“It was pretty rough,” said second baseman Dustin Pedroia [stats] of the field. “That ball to AC was a do-or-die play. That was a tough play. It was bad. That was the worse it has been all year.”

(news.bostonherald.com)

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - The Red Sox activated infielder Alex Cora off the 15-day disabled list prior to Sunday's 9-8 loss to the Twins.

Cora, who had been out since April 9 with a sore right elbow, had three hits and started at shortstop Sunday night, making him 6-for-7 in four games this season.

In a corresponding move, the Red Sox optioned infielder Jed Lowrie to Triple-A Pawtucket.

(sportsnetwork.com)

DETROIT -- So far, so good for the rehabbing Red Sox duo at Triple-A Pawtucket.

First baseman Sean Casey and utility infielder Alex Cora have begun their Minor League rehabilitation assignments as they return from injury, and the initial reports show no problems and solid production.

"They both look like they're doing real good," manager Terry Francona said before Thursday night's game against the Tigers at Comerica Park.

If their rehabs continue to go well, both players could rejoin the Red Sox roster for this weekend's series at Minnesota.

That's assuming the weather holds up for Pawtucket's game against Norwich on Friday night, as the forecast calls for heavy rain throughout the day. A rainout could delay Casey and Cora's return, but only by a day or two.

The team has not decided how it will make room for both players on the roster. It's assumed that infielder Jed Lowrie is one player on the way down to Pawtucket, and the other spot will be decided when the time comes.

Cora, who started his rehab on Wednesday night, is recovering from a sprained right elbow. In his first game with Pawtucket, he went 2-for-4 with a couple of singles to left and scored a run while playing seven innings at second base. Then, in Thursday's game, he went 1-for-4, starting at second again, though he was originally slated to DH.

"We were going to DH him, but he didn't get very many fielding chances [on Wednesday night], so he played second again," Francona said. "He'll play short [on Friday]."

Cora has appeared in three games with Boston this season, going 3-for-3 with a walk. Casey has played in 17 games and owns a .346 average with eight RBIs.

(mlb.com)

Alex Cora was turning double plays in practice at second base yesterday. He'll go to shortstop today. The Sox think Cora is just about ready to come off the disabled list, but they're considering whether a rehab assignment is necessary.



(boston.com)

Alex Cora has begun a throwing program but is still at least a week away from returning.





(fenwaywest.blogspot.com)

Alex Cora, meanwhile, still is about a week away from even being cleared to start throwing again. Cora has a right elbow strain. He took batting practice on the field this afternoon. Francona said the team will re-evaluate the utility infielder next Monday or Tuesday, after their road series this weekend against Tampa Bay.

(beloblog.com)

BOSTON -- Considering his value over the past two seasons as the club's most versatile infielder, the Red Sox are not taking any chances with Alex Cora's right elbow.

Boston is shutting down the infielder and keeping him from throwing a baseball following an MRI on Thursday.

"We've already spoken with [doctors] and trainers," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "In layman's language, we're going to slow him down until he's completely pain-free, whether that's three days, seven days, 10 days, that's up to how he feels. Then we'll get him back to baseball."

"I think we've got to shut it down for a little bit and map a plan," Cora said. "That's why we have to meet with everybody. Map out a plan and go from there."

As for the MRI, it was Cora's second one in as many weeks since he went on the disabled list on April 10 with a sprained right elbow.

"There was nothing seen in the MRI that is alarming," Francona said. "It confirmed what our trainers thought and our doctors thought. But we do want him to stop the throwing until he's pain-free. They do certain movements -- certain actions where they can replicate that pain -- and they want that to go away before he does baseball activities."

"The first one didn't work out too good, so I had to do it again [on Thursday]," Cora explained.

Cora has managed to keep his sense of humor while rehabbing the elbow, which he injured while making a throw across to first base while taking ground balls prior to the April 10 game against the Tigers.

"It feels the same," Cora said. "The only movement with the arm was with the [TV] remote, watching these clowns play, watching Sean Casey, a professional athlete with no balance."

But that doesn't mean Cora isn't frustrated watching from the bench, unable to contribute.

"I don't know how big a deal," Cora said of the severity of his injury. "I thought it was something that was a few days and now it looks like weeks now. It's been a week already, and it's going to take another week."

(mlb.com)

Boston, MA (Sportsbooks) - The Red Sox placed infielder Alex Cora on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a right elbow sprain.
The move is retroactive to April 10.

Cora is a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a walk for the Sox this season, with his lone start coming at shortstop April 2 in Oakland. His last appearance came as a pinch-hitter on April 9 against Detroit.

To fill the roster spot, the club has purchased the contract of infielder Joe Thurston from Triple-A Pawtucket. Thurston is expected to be with the team for tonight's game against the Yankees in the Bronx.

(mlb.com)

The Red Sox are considering placing Alex Cora on the disabled list because of his sore elbow.
Cora was supposed to be ready to play by now, but manager Terry Francona said today that he still could be a week away. If Cora lands on the DL, the Red Sox could recall Brandon Moss. If they wanted another outfielder instead, they'd pick either Joe Thurston or Keith Ginter.

(rotoworld.com)

Alex Cora hurt his arm while throwing before Thursday's game and was sent for an examination. The Red Sox can't afford to be two infielders down with Mike Lowell already hurt, so even if it's a day-to-day problem for Cora, he could go on the DL. Jed Lowrie would be the obvious choice as a replacement.

(rotoworld.com)

FORT MYERS - Ask Alex Cora [stats] what he remembers most about playing baseball in Japan, and he won’t take you down the usual road of culture shock, language barriers and the many hours it took to make the trip.

Not right away. First, the Red Sox [team stats] utility infielder will talk to you about batting practice.

Cora was on a team of major league All-Stars - “See, I really was an All-Star,” he likes to say - for an eight-game series against Japanese All-Stars in November 2004. When he arrived at the ballpark for the first game, he was shocked to see that the Japanese take batting practice with two players hitting at the same time. Click here to continue reading...

Different players have different values to a team. The value of Alex Cora has been an immense. You'll never see his name among the league leaders in the stat categories. But, Red Sox fans know you need a guy like him to get through a 162 game season. 

Cora begins his 4th season with the Red Sox. He's one of those guys who might go unnoticed in most cities, but not in Boston. Not is a city as baseball crazy as Boston.Cora thrives in that intensity.

" I love it. I think if you're going to do what I do it is the perfect place to do it. I would love to play every day in Boston because I know they can appreciate more of my game but the days I play out there they give you a standing ovation for a ground ball to second with a man on second. So, they understand the game and expect that out of you and it's a great place for me. " Click here to continue reading...

Tom D'Angelo spoke to Red Sox infielder Alex Cora, who has the longest at-bat on record in the majors and played in the two longest nine-inning games.

The 18-pitch at bat against Matt Clement in 2004 when you were with the Dodgers, did you ever think, when is this going to end?

I was so locked into that at-bat I wasn't really thinking about anything else. Nothing really mattered.

You fouled off 14 straight; what kind of pitches were you seeing?

Everybody gives me the credit but for Matty to throw so many strikes in a row he had to be doing something right, too. It was just a battle between two guys trying to get a result.

And that result was you hitting a home run. How satisfying was that?

It was a special for a lot of people but I was just happy to do something for my team. It was a 2-1 game at that point and Wilson Alvarez was throwing a great game and Matty, too.