Alex Cora Floats Idea Red Sox Could Be Sellers if Team Doesn't Improve
By Sean Facey
The Red Sox have been playing catch-up with the playoff-bound teams of the AL East practically all year, in what has often felt like a one-step-forwards, two-steps-back type of season. With just over a week remaining before the trade deadline, there have been rumblings that maybe the defending champions don't have what it takes to repeat, or even return to the playoffs.
And on Monday, with his team three games back of the second Wild Card spot, manager Alex Cora finally said what's been on the mind of every Red Sox fan since the start of July: If things don't get better immediately, then they might end up as sellers at the trade deadline.
Some #RedSox stuff:
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) July 22, 2019
* Eovaldi, who has not pitched since a AAA game on Thursday, will get in tonight one way or another, Cora said.
* Moreland set to be activated tomorrow.
* Cora, for the first time, acknowledged Sox have to play better or some players could be traded away.
It's an unfortunate truth that needed to be acknowledged. The Red Sox have too many expiring contracts and too many questions heading into the offseason for this team to not consider selling if it doesn't prove itself to be a real contender right now.
With little talent in the pipeline close to breaking into the MLB, there's no time for Boston to mess around. How they play now and the moves the make as a result will have long-reaching implications. Cora, to his credit, isn't being coy about it.
Alex Cora was asked if the Red Sox need to prove that they should be buyers rather than sellers over the coming stretch of games against the Sox and Yankees. He didn’t rule out such a perspective. pic.twitter.com/b3JmK5vrNB
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) July 22, 2019
The Red Sox play their next 14 games against the Yankees and Rays, the two teams ahead of them in the AL East standings. It's a stretch of baseball that will test their mettle and determine if this team is the real deal or not.
The Red Sox just lost a series to the Orioles which is pathetic but either way their season was always going to come down to this 14-game stretch against the Rays and the Yankees. Buckle up: Turbulence ahead!
— Steve Perrault (@Steve_Perrault) July 21, 2019
If they find a spark and reel off a win streak right before the deadline, then they might end up with some strong reinforcements. If not, then they might have to say goodbye to some key players.