Alex Cora Challenges Red Sox To ‘Finish Job’ After Trade Deadline

BOSTON -- Alex Cora watched his team falter after the trade deadline in each of the last two seasons.

In 2022, the Red Sox traded away Christian Vazquez to the Houston Astros while bringing Eric Hosmer and Reese McGuire to Boston. The team sat at. 500 before struggling down the stretch and falling out of playoff contention.

In 2023, the Red Sox only made a minor move just before the deadline to acquire infielder Luis Urias. Boston proceeded to have a devastating loss to the Toronto Blue Jays just days later that shifted momentum. From there, the health of the team diminished with its playoff chances.

August struggles have been a major post-trade deadline trend in recent seasons for the Red Sox. At 56-49 and just a game out of a playoff spot entering Tuesday's game on deadline day, Alex Cora enforced the belief in his team to not fall victim to those slides again.

"This is the team, this is where we're going," Cora told reporters at Fenway Park. "We have to do a better job than we've done the past two years. We've been in exactly this situation three years in a row. We didn't finish the job the last two. Hopefully, we can finish in this year."

So, what can help the Red Sox avoid such a slide for the third consecutive season?

Cora believes it's an improved pitching staff.

"The pitching is different," Cora said. "We expect to pitch the rest of the season. Offensively, we're really good at what we do. Obviously, the defense needs to improve."

The Red Sox did make recent additions before the deadline in James Paxton, Yohan Ramirez, Quinn Priester (optioned to AAA), Danny Jansen and Lucas Sims.