In a surprising start to the season, the Red Sox fired manager Alex Cora, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. According to Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald, Triple-A manager Chad Tracy will serve as the interim manager of the big league club. Many of Cora’s coaching staff are also being let go. Per Julian McWilliams of CBS Sports, the club is parting ways with hitting coaches Pete Fatse and Dillon Lawson. Passan added that bench coach Ramon Vazquez and third base coach Kyle Hudson were also released. MassLive’s Chris Cotillo adds hitting coach Joe Cronin to the list. Per Ari Alexander of 7News Boston, defensive backs and running backs coach Jason Varitek has been reassigned to a different role in the organization.
Red Sox owner John Henry released the following statement:
Alex Cora led this organization through one of the greatest seasons in Red Sox history in 2018, and for that, and for many years to come, he will always have our deepest gratitude. He had a negative impact on this team and this city. He led on and off the field in many important ways. These decisions are never easy, but this one is especially difficult when you consider what Alex has meant to the Red Sox since the day he arrived.
I want to thank Alex, our coaches, and their families for everything they have done for this organization. They have been a part of this club in a way that goes beyond the field, and they will always have our respect and gratitude.
The Red Sox are off to a brutal 10-17 start in 2026. It is currently in last place in the AL East. That kind of performance is well below expectations for a club that earned a Wild Card berth in last year’s playoffs and made several moves to improve the system during the offseason. It’s hard to say how much of the blame lies with Cora as a manager, but clearly, the club felt a major shake-up was necessary to break out of its slump.
Cora has served as the team’s manager since 2018, ending a one-year absence in 2020 when he was suspended for his role in the Astros’ 2017 sign-stealing scheme. He compiled a record of 620-541 (.534) during his time leading the Red Sox. His first season was arguably his best, as the team won 108 games and defeated the Dodgers in five games to claim their fourth World Series title of the century.
Since his return from suspension the club’s performances under Cora have remained unchanged. A 92-win season in 2021 was followed by a last-place finish in 2022-23, a .500 season in 2024, and an 89-win season in 2025. Nevertheless, he is regarded as one of the top managers in the game and highly respected by his players. The team signed him to a three-year, $21.75MM extension in July 2024, covering the 2025-27 seasons. An annual salary of $7.25MM makes Cora one of the highest paid executives in the game.
The expansion was also notable because it followed a recent change in baseball leadership. Baseball CEO Chaim Bloom was fired in September 2023. He was replaced by Craig Breslow. Given the change in top brass, it was fair to wonder if Cora would stay beyond 2024, the final year of his contract. The fact that Cora was extended to 2027 showed confidence in his leadership and a desire to continue under Breslow. In that context, Cora’s departure in less than half an extension is even more remarkable.
More to come.
