Why do the Mets over-value mediocre role players?

Now that Alex Cora has signed a $2, possibly $3 million contract, he becomes the latest player in recent years to receive a contract that makes no sense for what he will hopefully accomplish.  Why is it that the Mets constantly over-value these types of role players?  I thought the bench was supposed to be the area in which you saved a couple bucks by signing players that are too week to perform on a regular basis, but can fill a specific role.  In other words, back up catcher, late inning defensive replacement, pop off the bench, etc.  What I do not understand is why the Mets, and Minaya specifically, likes to pay so much for these guys?

I mean really, do you need to spend $2-$3 million on a bench guy that you hope will not have to play often?  Is he that much better that the other available utility guys out there that you have to snap him up so early in the off-season?  What if you wait, do you think your bench would be incomplete?  I do not get it.

Take a guy like Nick Green.  Nick played for Boston last year and had roughly the same number of at bats as Cora.  He is also 31 years old and a free agent while Cora is 34 years old.  Last year Cora made $2 million and Green made about $500K (courtesy of Baseball Reference).  Cora beat him in average by only about 15 points, however, Green had 6 homers to Cora's 1.  Also, Green had twice the RBIs and 7 more doubles.  I know that Green is about half the player defensively that Cora is, but does it merit four times the salary?  If he hits his bonus incentives, Cora can make $3 million next season.  If that happens, do you think the outcome will be good.  He is a career .246 hitter in 12 seasons.  Not worth it.

I really feel the Mets, if constrained by money even the tiniest bit, should wait on guys like this, sign the players you want to go after, and patch up the bench at the end.  A million here and a million there to a few of these guys and you will be eating up $4-6 million of next years payroll that could be used effectively elsewhere.  I don't think this was a sound baseball move for the team.

Comments

[mike]

agreed