MVN: Most Valuable Network

Alex Cintron SS/2B/3B

Much like Alex Cora, who is currently one of many free agent players still looking for a job, Alex Cintron is not a name you hear on ESPN all that often. But Cintron is as versatile as Cora with experience at short, second and third and hit .286 for Baltimore in 2008, 16 points higher than Cora's .270 BA.

Since the Red Sox almost went to the World Series with Cora, as the utility infielder, let's compare their stats from 2008:

Cintron put up almost identical numbers while playing for the Orioles - a team with an inferior lineup to the Red Sox. With Ortiz and Lowell returning from injury plagued seasons and Manny no longer anchoring the lineup, the Red Sox will need all the offense they can get from every player this season. That's where Cintron becomes a promising option for the Red Sox.

Cintron's .277 career BA is better than Cora's .245 and Julio Lugo's .271. Cintron hit .286 last year and .285 with the White Sox in 2006, while Lugo has struggled to reach the .250 mark in three years with Boston after averaging .288 through 3 ½ years in Tampa Bay. Cintron is also a switch hitter, making it easy for Francona to use him in late game situations - and incase you're wondering he hit .286 in 14 pinch hitter at-bats last year.

But the Red Sox will be looking for more than offense from their utility infielder. Cora is a 11-year veteran and definitely contributed to the success of young infielders like Dustin Pedroia and Jed Lowrie. He also stabilized the infield often playing as a late game defensive replacement... Can Cintron offer those same attributes?

Cintron will be entering his ninth season as a pro, but hasn't played more than 100 games in a season since he left Arizona in 2005. He played 61 games for Baltimore last season, so his knowledge of the AL East is limited. He has postseason experience from his time in Arizona, but totaled just 8 at-bats when the D-Backs won the World Series in 2001.

As a fielder, Cintron made more errors than Cora with fewer total chances, but their Range Factors are very close:

Cintron: 8 errors in 165 total chances (.951 %); Range Factor at SS = 4.97
Cora: 6 errors in 235 total chances (.975 %); Range Factor at SS = 4.90

Bottom Line: Cintron just turned 30 in December, making him the youngest of the three players we have discussed here. His stats and service time are equivalent, but the reason I like him over Lugo and Cora is that he hits with runners on base:

If you watched Julio since he came to Boston, you'll be as excited as I am about this particular stat.