BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox have terminated manager Alex Cora, the skipper who guided the franchise to its 2018 World Series title and a record-breaking 108 regular-season victories that year.
Triple-A Worcester manager Chad Tracy will step in as interim manager to replace Cora.
“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,” owner John Henry said in a statement. “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.”
The organization made this announcement on Saturday following a dominant 17-1 win against Baltimore, which ended a four-game skid that included getting swept at home by their longtime rivals, the New York Yankees.
Currently sitting at 10-17 for the season, the Red Sox find themselves at the bottom of the AL East standings.
Along with Cora’s dismissal, the organization is releasing five coaching staff members: 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, who serves as game planning and run prevention coach and caught for three of the team’s four championship teams this century, will move to a different position within the organization that has not yet been specified.
Cora, who played as an infielder for Boston for more than three seasons and earned a 2007 World Series ring as a player, served as Houston’s bench coach during their 2017 championship run. Boston brought him in to take over for John Farrell, marking his debut as a major league manager.
During his inaugural season as manager, Boston captured 108 regular-season games, eliminated their bitter rivals the Yankees in the playoffs, then beat Houston in the American League Championship Series. The team completed their championship run by defeating Los Angeles in five games for their fourth World Series crown in 15 seasons.
The following year saw Boston finish third in their division, ending a four-year playoff streak. During that offseason, The Athletic published reports indicating Cora had played a central role in Houston’s illegal sign-stealing operation during their title-winning campaign.
After Major League Baseball completed its investigation, both Cora and the Red Sox mutually agreed on his departure. Ron Roenicke took the helm of a team that would subsequently undergo major salary cuts, including trading 2018 AL MVP Mookie Betts and pitcher David Price. Following a basement finish in the shortened 2020 campaign, the team dismissed Roenicke and brought Cora back.
In his return season, Boston made the playoffs once more, defeating New York in the AL wild-card matchup and Tampa Bay in the Division Series before falling to Houston in the ALCS.
Since that playoff run, Boston has failed to win another postseason series, finishing last in consecutive seasons before returning to the playoffs last year only to lose to the Yankees in the wild-card round.
Cora compiled a 620-541 record during his tenure as Red Sox manager.
“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’s statement said. “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.”
Chad Epperson, previously managing the Double-A Portland team in the Eastern League, will temporarily fill the third base coaching position. Collin Hetzler, who coached hitting for Worcester, will join Boston’s major league hitting staff.
