Red Sox Part Ways with Manager Alex Cora
The decision to fire Alex Cora has been deemed “necessary” by team president Sam Kennedy, although it appears to have left players feeling unsettled.
Cora, along with five members of his coaching staff, was let go following a disappointing start to the season, with the team sitting at 10-17 and last in the American League East.
Trevor Story expressed concerns to reporters on Sunday, suggesting that the rationale behind the firing wasn’t communicated clearly by upper management.
“Some of the best coaches in the world were never given a fair chance,” he commented.
Garrett Whitlock added, “They made it clear to us that we’re being paid to play baseball, and that’s where our focus should be.” Players were also not obliged to discuss the recent changes during a team meeting that morning.
“The true direction of this series is still to be determined,” Story mentioned.
The coaching shakeup includes hitting coach Peter Fatze, bench coach Ramon Vazquez, third base coach Kyle Hudson, and assistant hitting coach Dillon Lawson, while Jason Varitek will be reassigned within the organization.
Chad Tracy, the previous manager of Boston’s Triple-A affiliate in Worcester, has stepped in as interim manager.
During a press conference, Kennedy referred to the decision as “bold,” supporting the timing explained by general manager Craig Breslow.
Breslow stated, “By acting today, we have 135 games left—almost a full season. This gives us a chance for a fresh start and the opportunity to compete for a district championship and make a deep postseason run, as we envisioned during spring training.” He emphasized a need for a new direction and voice.
Despite a significant 17-1 win against Baltimore on Saturday, the Red Sox are struggling overall this season. Their offense ranks 27th in MLB with a .667 OPS, while the pitching staff holds a team ERA of 4.44, tied for 20th in the league.
“Yesterday was tough, but we felt this was necessary,” Kennedy remarked. “We needed to take decisive action for a fresh start for the 2026 season. We believe in our players’ ability to perform at the highest level and return to postseason play. What matters is how we perform at the Major League level, and today begins anew.”
Despite the shakeup, Breslow expressed his complete confidence in Tracy.
Cora, who previously led the Red Sox to a World Series title in 2018, resigned in 2020 amid accusations linked to the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal. He returned to Boston in 2021, leading the team to three postseason appearances and finishing with a record of 620-541.
