1. A method for data management in a multi-core computing storage environment by a processor device, comprising: using a batched data operation under a single lock to perform data demotion operations by conducting a demotion scan and moving data to a demote ready list while the lock is held by a Most Recently Used (MRU) operation; determining a priority of the demotion scan, wherein if a priority of the demotion scan is determined to be high, moving a number of tracks from an active list to the demote ready list; determining the priority of the demotion scan by counting a number of free cache segments, wherein if the number of free cache segments is less than a predetermined threshold, designating the priority of the demotion scan as high; and comparing a count of tracks on the active list to a count of demote ready tracks; wherein the number of tracks from the active list are moved to the demote ready list if the count of tracks on the active list is higher than the count of demote ready tracks, and a predetermined percentage of the count of demote ready tracks is less than a number of tracks needed to be freed by the demotion scan.