Jarren Duran experienced a mixed bag of emotions Wednesday afternoon at Coors Field.
Duran was among the most animated players in the Red Sox-Rockies benches-clearing scene, which went down in the fourth inning of Boston's blowout loss to Colorado. But before the visitors ended their West Coast road trip on a sour note, they received some great news.
Alex Cora signed a three-year contract extension with the Red Sox before the club flew back to Boston. Players learned about the pact a few hours before the deal was officially announced, and Duran wanted to make sure his manager wasn't pulling a fast one.
"When he pulled me into his office today and told me, he was like, 'Hey, I'm going to be here another three years.' I was like, 'Don’t lie to me,'" Duran told reporters, per The Boston Globe. "He's an awesome person, not just as a manager but as a personal friend. I'm so happy and thankful he's going to be here."
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In order to latch on with the Red Sox long-term, Cora wanted to ensure his family was taken care of and the club was committed to winning both now and in the years to come. Duran helped check the second box, as the All-Star Game MVP has established himself as a franchise cornerstone worth building around.
Cora putting pen to paper made the future in Boston even brighter. But the manager and his players probably aren't looking ahead, as they have a great opportunity right in front of them.
Featured image via Isaiah J. Downing/USA TODAY Sports Images
