The Red Sox have "accepted an invitation to visit the White House" to celebrate their recent World Series win, though no date "has been set," according to Peter Abraham of the BOSTON GLOBE. No players "will be required to attend an event that has become politically charged during the Trump presidency." Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who in September defended his homeland of Puerto Rico from what he described as “disrespectful” comments by Trump, said that he "would attend the ceremony." Cora: "I’m going to use my platform the right way. I’m not going to embarrass anybody. Actually I’m going to represent probably 4 million people from back home the right way when we go there." Abraham notes there were some "notable absences" -- including Puerto Ricans Carlos Beltran and Carlos Correa -- when the Astros "visited last March." With the "exception of a few players who had joined other teams," every member of the '13 champion Red Sox "visited the Obama White House" in '14 (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/4). In Philadelphia, Katie McInerney noted the Red Sox will be the "first professional team to go to the White House after winning a title" since the Penguins went in '17 after winning the Stanley Cup (PHILLY.com, 12/3). NEW YORK MAGAZINE's Adam Raymond writes the White House put the Red Sox in a "tough spot by inviting them to celebrate their World Series title with President Trump." Turn it down and "Republican fans, along [with] right wing outrage merchants, including Trump himself, would have an aneurysm." Accept the invitation and "incur the wrath of a fanbase in one of the most anti-Trump states in the union" (NYMAG.com, 12/4).
Eovaldi, now a free agent, was a popular figure in the Red Sox doc thanks to his playoff performancesgetty images
STAR OF THE SHOW: The AP's Jimmy Golen noted free agent P Nathan Eovaldi was the star of the MLB Network-produced documentary, "The 2018 World Series: Damage Done," and he "didn’t even have to attend the red carpet premiere" last night at the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston. Eovaldi received a "huge cheer whenever his name was mentioned by the dignitaries who shared the stage with the four World Series trophies the team has won" since '04. Red Sox President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski was "cheerfully heckled with shouts of 'Bring him back!'" (AP, 12/3).
