Projo Sports Blog

By STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- Today's trading deadline can cause various types of emotions in a team's clubhouse, from anxiety as players wonder if they'll be staying or going or the excited anticipation of a trade that would help a team for the stretch run.

Manager Terry Francona admitted as much this afternoon, though he said he has tried to maintain a low-key approach as the deadline approaches.

"Our people in uniform, what we need to do is spend our energy making the players we have here better, make the team better," said Francona. "When you're down there saying we need this or that, you're also saying that somebody here can't get it done. If we make a trade, I understand, but I don't think it helps to belittle our guys. We believe in our guys, that they can get it done."

If the Sox do swing a deal, Francona could only point to last year's acquisition of reliever Eric Gagne as an example for getting too excited about a trade too soon. Gagne bombed badly in his two months with the Sox.

"Last year we felt our bullpen needed help and I don't there was anyone connected with our organization who, when it happened, wasn't excited. I remember being excited when it happened." he said. "At the time it was a good deal to make us better, but it didn't work out too well. Sometimes things don't work out the way you want."

Nor does Francona sit in his office judging the commitment of ownership and general manager Theo Epstein by whether they swing a deadline deal or not.

"Our ownership puts us in a position every year to win," said Francona. "We don't need to be thinking about that. We need to spend our time playing better."

 Tags  francona red sox trading deadline

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