Alex Cora Advises Players Amid Trade Deadline Speculation

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora has been providing some guidance to his players as they navigate the whirlwind of rumors surrounding the MLB trade deadline.

When pressed about what to communicate to his team ahead of the deadline, which is set for 6 PM this Thursday, Cora advised them to take the chatter with a grain of salt. “Don’t read too much,” he told reporters, underscoring the need for skepticism amid the noise.

Cora shared a personal anecdote from his time at ESPN, hinting at the unpredictability of trade rumors. The atmosphere around trading can really stir excitement and anxiety among fans and teammates alike, as the speculation ramps up just before the deadline.

It’s clear Cora recognizes the buzz and its significance, noting that “it’s what controls the world.” With social media today, baseball fans often find their feeds flooded with stories about trades, and while some sources are reliable, others might not be so truthful.

When asked to clarify whether ESPN analysts had ever fabricated trade rumors, Cora was a bit evasive, saying, “I got the story, man. I don’t want to bury people.” Such comments hint at the complexities of media representation and the blurry lines that sometimes exist between reporting and speculation.

Cora, who played 14 seasons in the majors—including a couple with the Mets—transitioned to a role as an ESPN analyst after his playing career ended. He returned to the field in 2017 as a bench coach for the Astros, eventually leading to his team’s victory in the 2018 World Series against Boston.