Workman on inside track for 2020 closer's role

ARLINGTON -- Red Sox manager Alex Cora isn't about to name his 2020 closer in late September 2019, particularly when he isn't sure who will be running the team's front office going forward.

But it seems clear that Brandon Workman has the inside track on that role for next year.

Cora was candid on Wednesday, saying that if he knew what Workman was going to develop into this season, he would have been the closer from the start of 2019.

"Somebody asked me last week if I would have changed something. Well, if I had a crystal ball and said, 'OK, this is something that is going to happen with Brandon Workman,' then go ahead and be the closer," Cora said. "It's a testament to who he is. Last year was a very disappointing season. We took him off the roster [in the postseason]. He was a great teammate and he was there, but I know it hurt him. He had a better offseason than previous ones. Hard work pays off, and he's having an outstanding season."

While Cora used a committee approach in the first half of the season that often included Matt Barnes or Ryan Brasier in the ninth inning, Workman pitched himself into that role after the All-Star break.

Since the break, Workman is 13-for-15 in save opportunities. Remarkably, he has given up just one home run during this record-setting season for the long ball.

"I really do enjoy it," Workman, 31, said of closing. "I like pitching in those big situations. It makes it real easy to bring the intensity and the focus every time out."

And without question, Workman would welcome the chance to pitch the ninth inning in 2020 and beyond.

"Since I became a reliever, closing has been the job I want out of the bullpen," Workman said. "I think that goes for most relievers. That's kind of the role you want to have in the bullpen, so I've obviously thought about it."

Exit interviews
With his team eliminated more than a week before the end of the season, Cora has had more time to huddle with players and establish goals for 2020.

Cora started the process of exit interviews on Wednesday and expects the process to be complete by Friday. He's found it beneficial.

After winning the World Series, Cora didn't hold exit interviews last year. In hindsight, the thinks that was a mistake.

"Actually this is something that, I talked to [assistant general managers] Eddie [Romero] and BOH [Brian O'Halloran], and hopefully we accomplish the things that we did last year [going forward], but it's something that you have to actually do regardless of whether you make it to the postseason or you don't make it," Cora said. "It's important. If I learned something today, we need to do that even if you have a headache."

Workload management
With the regular season winding down, Cora started to plot how he will use his position players the rest of the season.

Mookie Betts, who has been dealing with discomfort in his left foot, won't play the remaining two games in Texas, but he should be on track to start in the final series of the season at home this weekend against the Orioles.

Third baseman Rafael Devers, who entered Wednesday six hits shy of 200, will get a day of rest on Thursday but should play all weekend in his quest at the milestone.

Brock Holt has been dealing with heavy legs of late, but Cora thinks he can start by Friday.

"The fact that they're showing up and giving it great effort, that's gratifying," Cora said. "That's the way it should be. I expect them to do the same thing all the way to Sunday."