The Boston Red Sox have been playing better baseball over the last month or so than anyone could've predicted early on in the year.
Still, Boston's future is completely up in the air, with the MLB trade deadline fast approaching, and the Red Sox floating just above .500 with the question of which direction to head in staring them in the face.
While discussing the upcoming deadline and what the Red Sox should be looking to do on Monday, MLB insider Ken Rosenthal provided Boston with a plan of action.
Here's what Rosenthal wrote for The Athletic:
"Let’s pretend, for a moment, that someone other than John Henry owned the Boston Red Sox, and that owner was hellbent on accelerating the team’s stunning progress instead of fretting over how it might stall.
What’s the first thing that owner would do? Throw Craig Counsell money at Alex Cora. That’s right, ignore the talk from Cora about not wanting to negotiate during the season. Drop a $40 million offer on him, and see how quickly he snaps to attention.
What’s the next thing our owner would do? State, unequivocally, that the Red Sox are buyers, further persuading Cora to stick around..."
The Red Sox are 484-409 in Cora's six seasons as manager. They've made the postseason twice, winning the World Series in 2018 and making it to the ALCS in 2021.
However, Boston has finished in last place in the AL East over the last two seasons with a 78-84 record in both years. This year, they're on pace to win 86 games, which could be good enough for a wild-card spot.
It's hard to imagine any manager getting more out of their roster than Cora is right now, and the Red Sox should be looking to lock him up for multiple years before he goes and takes a more talented roster to a World Series elsewhere.
