The trade demand didn’t bother Alex Cora. The new Red Sox manager basically shook it off like a gnat.
The agent for Boston’s Blake Swihart asked for the catcher/utility man to be moved, but Cora made it sound like a long shot.
“His agent, I guess you know, he expressed his feelings, but he’s not the only big leaguer — first of all I haven’t heard it from Blake, and second, it’s been an ongoing talk of players asking for trades or whatever throughout the year,” Cora said, according to WEEI.com.
“[J.T.] Realmuto and [Josh] Harrison and [David] Freese, and the last time I checked, Harrison and Freese are very happy with their team. So it is what it is, you know? But he works, man. He shows up and he knows in advance when he’s going to play. I let him know the night before and he’s ready to roll.”
Swihart has appeared in 15 games this year, leading to frustration over his role as a seldom-used 25th man. The Red Sox have said that Swihart seems unlikely to move up the depth chart at catcher or in the outfield, the positions he’s bounced between in search of at-bats.
In fact, it might get worse for Swihart. When rehabbing Dustin Pedroia returns, it could send Swihart back to the minors, where at least he will see more playing time.
“We’ve had conversations with the team, and they’re aware of how we feel,” his agent, Brodie Scoffield, said in an interview with NBC Sports Boston. “Blake’s in a really difficult position. We’ve got a switch-hitter, offensive impact player, and his bat deserves a chance to be in the lineup.
“Blake’s not the type of player that’s going to ask or demand a trade [on his own]. He’s focused on what’s in front of him and happy having a positive impact on the team and the situation at hand. That being said, I don’t think we’re building any type of trade value, nor helping him progress as a ballplayer, nor is the team really being served by him in this role.”
Swihart, once a highly touted prospect, is hitting .138 in 29 at-bats this season.