When the dust settles on a contentious trade deadline, sometimes the most revealing insights come from the dugout. The Red Sox manager watched from the sidelines as his front office navigated one of baseball’s most pressure-packed times, but his observations paint a picture of an organization under intense scrutiny.
Sox fans are fed up with quiet trade deadlines, and the heat has been relentless on Craig Breslow after what many considered a disappointing July deadline. Another MLB deadline day went down as another disappointing day for him and the clubhouse, yet Alex Cora refuses to throw his chief baseball officer under the bus. Looks like loyalty runs deeper than public pressure in championship organizations.
In an episode of Baseball Isn’t Boring, Cora shared a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into the Sox’s deadline operations, revealing the intense pressure cooker environment. “It’s non-stop, like the phone calls and the meetings, in the computer looking for information, you know, medical is the last hour, which is very intense,” Cora explained. He described himself as being “there in shorts and sandals and just watching” while ready to answer questions if needed.
The skipper drew parallels to familiar pressure situations: “We always talk about deadlines right like times, you know, like the shot clock right and now the pitch clock, you know, that puts pressure on people.” Tbh, it makes sense when you think about how those final moments can make or break a season. As he concluded his stance on the whispers of trade deadline buzz, he added a message that cut through the noise.
Image: MLB.com
Sox’s rivals may think the deadline didn’t go in the team’s favor, but Cora didn’t just defend; he declared confidence. “Like I said in the podium up there, we got better. We got two good pitchers. Uh we kept our position players which are really really good,” he insisted, describing a squad transformed by new faces and renewed depth. It was a signal to the doubters and a rallying cry for the faithful: with these fresh additions, Boston isn’t just competing—they’re stronger than they’ve been in years.
This isn’t Cora’s first rodeo with trade deadline disappointment. Under former chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom, Cora let his frustration be known when the team was either unwilling or unable to make midseason upgrades in 2023 and 2024. The Red Sox crashed and burned after both deadlines, going 22-34 after the 2023 deadline and dropping completely out of contention. Their 2024 season followed a similar script with a decline after the All-Star break, ultimately leading to their elimination from playoff contention on September 25.
However, this season has a different approach: “We’re more complete, we pitched better, our bullpen is in a great place.” Well, you know what they say about championship cultures—they stick together when the going gets tough, and this Red Sox duo seems determined to weather the storm as a unified front.
Alex Cora and Red Sox answer back with results
That unified front is paying off in ways even the harshest critics couldn’t have imagined. While fans questioned front office moves, the Red Sox quietly built something special that’s now impossible to ignore. They have transformed Fenway Park into a madhouse, and opposing teams can’t stop their relentless charge up the standings.
Boston demolishes opponents night after night, extending their winning streak to seven games while fans pack the ballpark with an energy not felt in years. “I got a text from [Craig Breslow] about the attendance,” Cora told Rob Bradford following a recent win over the Royals. “Best paid attendance in six years. I was like, ‘Monday against Kansas City? Here we go.’ That’s what it used to be all about here. And that’s what we’re trying to accomplish. You feel the vibe.“
Image: MLB.com
Tuesday’s 6-2 dismantling of the Royals showcased everything clicking for Boston. Garrett Crochet dominated on the mound while players celebrated with their signature turbulent flight celebration, swaying dramatically as 37,000+ fans roared approval. The comical reference has become their trademark, and crowds eat it up.
Cora recognizes the shift. The manager draws parallels to 2018’s championship run, sensing that same electric atmosphere returning to Fenway. Boston’s remarkable turnaround tells the story: they trailed the Yankees by over 10 games in June but now lead their division rivals by 3.5 games. The Red Sox own the AL wild-card race and show no signs of slowing down.
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