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Cora signing official

The Red Sox today announced that the club has signed infielder Alex Cora to a two-year contract extending through the 2008 season. No further terms were disclosed and the following details were provided by the team:

Cora, 31, had filed for free agency on Oct. 31. The lefthanded batter hit .238 with one homer and 18 RBIs in 96 games with the Red Sox in 2006. He started 47 games at shortstop, 10 games at second base, and four games at third base while committing just seven errors in 292 total chances for a .976 fielding percentage. Cora went 40 consecutive games without an error from April 28-July 30.

Cora had a .315 batting average over his first 48 games through July 21. He also recorded six stolen bases in eight attempts and hit a game-winning two-run homer on Aug. 31 versus Toronto, his first long ball since Aug. 15, 2005.

Originally acquired by Boston from the Cleveland Indians on July 7, 2005, Cora posted a .269 average in 47 games with the Red Sox the remainder of that season.

Cora has a career average of .244 with 31 home runs and 215 RBIs in 876 games with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1998-2004), Cleveland (2005), and Boston (2005-06). He recorded career bests with 10 home runs and 47 RBIs with the Dodgers in 2004. Cora batted a lifetime best .291 with Los Angeles in 2002.