At the height of winter, just as New York sports fans were coming to grips with the fact that the Giants would not repeat as Super Bowl champs, the news that the New York Mets signed former Red Sox utilityman Alex Cora to a one-year, $2 million contract was hardly a backpage splash.

At age 33, Cora is best known for his utility play during the 2007 Boston Red Sox championship season and his 18-pitch at-bat in 2004. In 11 seasons, he’s churned out a .246 career batting average. If you look at the big picture, Cora’s career numbers place him somewhere alongside Desi Relaford, Ken Boswell or Rob Wilfong historically.

In 29 games for the Mets, Cora is batting .297, but that’s not why the Omar Minaya invested $2 million on Cora. Although he plays for the ’09 Mets, Cora would have fit right in with the ’86 Mets.

In a New York Times profile published today, Ben Shpigel explains, while David Wright may have more hits, Carlos Beltran may hit more home runs and Jose Reyes will steal more bases, Cora has something none of them have: experience.

Cora knows how to win. He is gritty and outspoken. His grit is on display nightly as the Times points out, “…wearing a splint every game, Cora packs his thumb in ice afterward, occasionally takes some anti-inflammatory medication, and he is good to go …”

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“That’s the true measure of a guy I have the ultimate respect for: a guy who plays hurt, doesn’t go about announcing it and just goes out there and does his job and does it well. I haven’t known him long, but Alex is quickly becoming one of my all-time favorites.” – David Wright on Alex Cora

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His voice has set the tone for the team. As the Mets battle through injuries, it is Cora who hammers home the “no excuses” policy in the clubhouse. According to the Times, Cora is on record saying that if someone disagrees with him they “don’t belong in this clubhouse.”

On the day he signed with the Mets, Minaya told the media, “You win championships with a 25-man roster. Alex Cora has been an integral part of teams that have been to the postseason in four of the last five years.”

Cora added, “I’m committed to do everything I can in any role to win.”

Six months later Cora is walking the talk and worth every penny the Mets invested.