**MLB Trade Deadline Approaches: Red Sox Manager Cautions Players on Rumors**
As the MLB trade deadline looms just days away, teams are intensifying their efforts to make deals, while players await their futures for the remainder of the 2025 season and beyond. Despite players’ attempts to ignore the surrounding chatter, the influx of trade rumors on social media and sports talk shows makes it challenging to remain unaffected. Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora is urging his players to be skeptical of the information they encounter, particularly from a source he knows well—ESPN.
Cora shared his insights with reporters, recalling his time at ESPN and how misinformation can circulate. “I can tell them stories about ESPN in the green room, how people made things up—trades,” he remarked. “And I can tell them not to believe everything that is said.” He recognizes that while fans are eager for trade news, not all reports are credible.
“You get into any social platform, and if you’re looking for baseball, your feed will be filled with baseball stories,” Cora explained. “Some people are responsible with their trade rumors and contacts, while others are not. So just block it.”
A source familiar with the situation indicated that ESPN stands by its reporting, although it remains unclear what specific claims Cora was referencing, given his departure from the network nearly a decade ago. “I got stories, man. I don’t wanna bury people,” Cora added when pressed about his comments regarding ESPN.
Cora’s perspective is informed by his 14 seasons as a player in the MLB, and he understands the pressure players face during the trade deadline. The Red Sox, with a passionate fan base, are always under scrutiny during this time. Notably, one of the most talked-about players in trade discussions is Jarren Duran, the team’s All-Star outfielder, who may be on the move before the deadline on Thursday at 6 p.m.
Currently, the Red Sox are positioned well in the playoff race, holding the second Wild Card spot in the American League with a record of 57-50, just behind their rivals, the New York Yankees, in the competitive AL East division.
**FAQ**
**What should players do about trade rumors?**
Players are advised to remain skeptical of trade rumors and focus on their performance, as not all reports are accurate or reliable.
