The Boston Red Sox have reached their limit.
Following a dismal 10-17 start to their campaign, the organization announced Saturday that it had terminated the contract of manager Alex Cora along with five additional members of his coaching team. Chad Tracy, who manages the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox, will assume control as the interim manager.
The other five coaches let go include: hitting coach Peter Fatse, third base coach Kyle Hudson, bench coach Ramón Vázquez, assistant hitting coach Dillon Lawson, and major league hitting strategy coach Joe Cronin.
Jason Varitek, the team’s game planning and run prevention coach, was also reportedly dismissed from his duties but has been reassigned to a different role within the franchise, a move likely reflecting his esteemed status as a former Red Sox captain and a two-time World Series champion as a player.
Red Sox principal owner John Henry offered commendation for Cora in a formal statement:
“Alex Cora guided this franchise to one of the most remarkable seasons in Red Sox history during 2018, and for that achievement, along with the subsequent years, he will forever hold our profound appreciation,” stated principal owner John Henry. “His influence on this squad and this metropolis has been enduring. He has demonstrated leadership both on and off the field in numerous significant capacities. Such decisions are never simple, but this one proves particularly challenging given Alex’s profound impact on the Red Sox since his arrival.
“I extend my thanks to Alex, our coaching staff, and their relatives for their entire dedication to this organization. They have been integral to this club in ways that extend beyond the playing field, and they will consistently command our esteem and gratitude.”
Cora was midway through his eighth year at the helm of the Red Sox, spanning two separate tenures. He was in the second year of a three-year, $21.75 million contract extension, and is reportedly still owed $13.54 million from that agreement.
Alex Cora’s second period leading the Boston Red Sox has concluded.
(Boston Globe via Getty Images)
The 2026 Red Sox are among MLB’s numerous underperforming clubs
The Red Sox began this season with aspirations for a World Series victory, but their momentum quickly faltered, experiencing defeats in eight of their initial 10 contests. Even with an overwhelming 17-1 triumph over the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday, they remain in the last position within the AL East division at 10-17, trailing the leading New York Yankees by 7.5 games.
While there have certainly been worse squads in MLB this year, Boston’s primary downfall has been the subpar performance of its most crucial players.
Their ace pitcher, Garrett Crochet, possesses a 7.88 ERA across five starts. Brayan Bello holds a 9.00 ERA over five starts. Roman Anthony has a .686 OPS and is currently battling a back ailment after an exceptional rookie year. Trevor Story, Marcelo Mayer, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Jarren Duran all display even lower statistics.
Ultimately, this proved too much for Cora and his staff to overcome. Even considering Cora’s previous World Series championship.
Alex Cora boasts a notable past with the Red Sox
The decision made on Saturday brings an end to Cora’s second stint in Boston.
His initial period lasted merely two years, yet it culminated in a 2018 World Series victory as a rookie manager. That 2018 team stands as one of the finest in recent MLB history, achieving a 108-54 regular season record and suffering only three total losses during the playoffs, which included a five-game triumph over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the championship series.
By the conclusion of the subsequent season, Cora appeared firmly established as one of MLB’s premier managers and even secured an extension. However, then came the revelation of the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal.
It emerged that Cora was a central figure in the 2017 Astros’ illicit sign-stealing operation, having previously served as their bench coach in Houston. He was one of three individuals banned for a full season by MLB in the fallout, alongside Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager A.J. Hinch. Boston’s own sign-stealing controversy from that 2018 team also surfaced, which resulted in far less severe repercussions.
The Red Sox chose to dismiss Cora after the suspension was imposed, but then brought him back following the 2020 season.
His first year back was reasonably successful, with 92 wins and a loss to the Astros in the 2021 ALCS, but Boston has not secured a playoff series victory or finished higher than third in the AL East since that time. They did reach the postseason last year, but a three-game sweep by the New York Yankees might have been more painful than not making it at all.
What is happening with the Red Sox?
There is no denying that something is amiss with the Red Sox currently, and it likely extends beyond just Cora. They possess more World Series titles than any other MLB team this century, yet the action of dismissing a manager and half the coaching staff in late April suggests a team that was utterly bewildered about its direction heading into 2026.
And that doesn’t even account for the situation with Rafael Devers last year.
If the Red Sox genuinely believed Cora was the appropriate leader to guide a contending team, as he had in the past, 27 games represents an exceedingly quick decision. If they harbored doubts and this season’s beginning merely confirmed their apprehensions, it raises questions about why they retained him at all.
Five months of the season still remain, and it is certainly conceivable that Tracy could orchestrate a turnaround. Nevertheless, an organization-wide period of uncertainty also seems equally probable.
