Red Sox Manager Alex Cora Has Delusional Response to Team's Plan to Cut Payroll in 2020

There's a difference between optimism and denial. Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora should carry the former, but it looks a lot more like he carries the latter.

With the postseason out of reach for Boston, Red Sox principal owner John Henry stated his intent to cut over $30 million from next year's budget, but Cora is acting like the team is only going to get better in wake of such news.

Henry plans on cutting the budget from $240 million to under the $208 million luxury tax threshold, meaning a number of players could be out the door, with J.D. Martinez being the top candidate (he has an opt-out clause and it's unlikely he's re-signed).

Cora says his team's goal is still to win the World Series, as they did in his first season as manager last year, but that'll be much more difficult without a couple of integral players.

Boston's success in the 21st century has been frequent, yet sporadic. While the Red Sox have won four championships over the last 15 seasons, there has always been a two- or three-year gap to retool the team.

Between 2004 and 2007, Theo Epstein had to replace Pedro Martinez, Derek Lowe, Kevin Millar, Johnny Damon, Trot Nixon, Keith Foulke, and another number of major contributors.

Between 2007 and 2013, Red Sox management had to replace Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, Manny Ramirez, J.D. Drew, Jason Varitek, Mike Lowell, Jonathan Papelbon, and the aforementioned Cora as part of a huge overhaul.

Lastly, the Red Sox had to replace David Ortiz, Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Napoli, Shane Victorino, John Lackey, and Jon Lester to win their most recent championship.

This is nothing new for the Sox, but Cora expecting a World Series next year is a bit much.