Following a dismal 10-17 beginning to their season, the Boston Red Sox terminated manager Alex Cora along with five members of his coaching staff, the team confirmed Saturday night.
The organization also let go hitting coach Peter Fatse, assistant hitting coach Dillon Lawson, third base coach Kyle Hudson, bench coach Ramon Vasquez, and hitting strategy coach Joe Cronin alongside Cora’s dismissal.
The Red Sox have promoted Chad Tracy, 40, who has managed their Triple-A Worcester affiliate since 2022, to serve as interim manager. Meanwhile, game planning and run-prevention coach Jason Varitek will move into a different position within the franchise.
Red Sox owner John Henry expressed his appreciation for Cora’s contributions in an official team statement, saying: “Alex Cora led this organization to one of the greatest seasons in Red Sox history in 2018, and for that, and the many years that followed, he will always have our deepest gratitude. He has had a lasting impact on this team and on this city. He has led on and off the field in so many important ways. These decisions are never easy, but this one is especially difficult given what Alex has meant to the Red Sox since the day he arrived.”
Henry continued: “I want to thank Alex, our coaches, and their families for everything they have given to this organization. They have been part of this club in a way that goes beyond the field, and they will always have our respect and gratitude.”
The team’s record fell to 9-17 following Friday’s crushing 10-3 defeat against Baltimore, where the Orioles hammered six home runs and recorded 20 hits. Following that loss, Boston found themselves trailing the New York Yankees by eight games in the American League East standings.
The Red Sox managed to bounce back Saturday, overwhelming the Orioles in a 17-1 victory.
Cora joined Boston as manager in 2018 after working as bench coach for Houston’s 2017 championship team. During his first season, he guided the Red Sox to a team-record 108 wins and a World Series championship.
Following the 2019 season, Cora became involved in Major League Baseball’s investigation concerning Houston’s sign-stealing scandal. Although MLB launched a separate inquiry into Boston’s practices, Cora and the organization mutually decided to part ways before the 2020 campaign began.
The 50-year-old manager served a suspension for the entire 2020 season due to his involvement with Houston’s violations, but Boston rehired him as manager in 2021.
Following three consecutive seasons without playoff appearances from 2022-24, the Red Sox made the postseason last year but were eliminated by the New York Yankees in an American League wild-card series.
Throughout his tenure, Cora compiled a regular-season record of 619-541 and went 18-10 in postseason play across eight years.
