Deadline trades always carry some risk

BOSTON — Alex Cora was out to dinner at an area Cheesecake Factory 10 years ago Tuesday night when his cell phone rang.

Manny Ramirez was on the line with some important news for his teammate. The Red Sox outfielder had just been sent to the Dodgers as part of a three-team trade that brought outfielder Jason Bay from the Pirates to Boston. Ramirez was in the final days of an eight-year contract he signed with the Red Sox prior to the 2001 season, and Boston [...]

BOSTON — Alex Cora was out to dinner at an area Cheesecake Factory 10 years ago Tuesday night when his cell phone rang.

Manny Ramirez was on the line with some important news for his teammate. The Red Sox outfielder had just been sent to the Dodgers as part of a three-team trade that brought outfielder Jason Bay from the Pirates to Boston. Ramirez was in the final days of an eight-year contract he signed with the Red Sox prior to the 2001 season, and Boston general manager Theo Epstein opted to cash in on the remaining market value held by the two-time World Series winner.

“He goes, ‘I got traded,’ ” Cora said. “I’m like, ‘That’s what you wanted, right?’ He’s like, ‘No!’ He said no.

“I said, ‘Go to L.A. and do your thing.’ And he did. Mannywood. Wow.”

That’s how quickly fortunes can change in big-league clubhouses this time of year. The non-waiver deadline passes at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, but the Red Sox have already made a pair of pickups. Steve Pearce has provided some right-handed pop in 16 games after his acquisition from the Blue Jays, and Nathan Eovaldi was outstanding in his mound debut on Sunday, as the former Rays’ right-hander fired seven scoreless frames in a 3-0 shutout of the Twins.

“Downstairs, upstairs, everywhere — it’s part of this,” Cora said of the trade chatter surrounding his club. “We know what’s going on around the league and we know what’s going on with us. Like I said, I’m comfortable with where we are. We’re versatile.”

Cora said there was some discussion regarding what kind of clubhouse fits Pearce and Eovaldi would be before each deal was made. As for their usage on the field, Cora said his staff would assess any new player individually and gradually incorporate them into Boston’s way of doing things.

“We’re still going to do things the way we set it up in spring training,” Cora said. “Even with Nathan coming in, there weren’t too many meetings — ‘This is what we want you to do.’ Just come in and do your thing. With Steve, same thing.”

Boston has been unable to bolster its bullpen ranks to this point, missing out on a handful of perceived targets. Alex Colome (Rays to Mariners), Zach Britton (Orioles to Yankees), Brad Hand (Padres to Indians), Jeurys Familia (Mets to Athletics) and Roberto Osuna (Blue Jays to Astros) have been moved to five teams the Red Sox could see in October’s postseason. Boston might have to be content with Craig Kimbrel and Matt Barnes at the back end while hoping some combination of Heath Hembree, Tyler Thornburg, Ryan Brasier and Joe Kelly are strong enough to take over for the starters in the sixth and seventh innings.

“Bullpen struggles? They need a bullpen (guy),” Cora said. “A starter struggles? They need a starter. It’s just kind of like opening week. Everything gets magnified because it’s the trade deadline.”

There is often significant risk in acquiring players this time of year. Osuna still faces a domestic assault charge in Toronto, and his administrative leave imposed by Major League Baseball runs through Saturday. Ramirez bashed 17 home runs in 53 games with Los Angeles in 2008 before he was eventually suspended for 50 games in 2009 after a positive test for performance enhancing drugs.

Bay helped Boston reach Game Seven of the American League Championship Series, with the Red Sox eventually falling to Tampa Bay. His 2009 season with Boston included a selection to the All-Star Game, 36 home runs and a .921 OPS. Bay faded quickly after signing a four-year, $66-million deal with the Mets in free agency, hitting just 37 more home runs over his next four seasons.

“We got a good player,” Cora said. “Jason Bay was good for us. Then I think we just got hurt.”

-- bkoch@providencejournal.com 

On Twitter: @BillKoch25