The Boston Red Sox made a stunning personnel overhaul Saturday, firing manager Alex Cora and five members of his coaching staff despite the team's dominant 17-1 victory over Baltimore. The moves came as the organization sits in last place in the AL East with a 10-17 record, marking the first managerial dismissal of the 2024 season across Major League Baseball.
Cora, who steered the Red Sox to a franchise-record 108 wins and a World Series championship in 2018, departs after six seasons managing the club. Owner John Henry issued a statement acknowledging the manager's legacy while explaining the decision to move forward with a change. "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," Henry said.
Chad Tracy, who has managed the Red Sox Triple-A affiliate in Worcester, will take over as interim manager. The 40-year-old compiled a 323-295 record with the WooSox and guided the franchise to winning seasons in each of his first four years. His father, Jim Tracy, managed three major league teams over an 11-year career.
The coaching staff exodus included 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 former Red Sox captain and catcher on three World Series teams, was reassigned to an unspecified role within the organization rather than dismissed.
Cora's tenure in Boston has been marked by dramatic peaks and valleys. Hired in 2017 after serving as a bench coach for the Houston Astros, he promptly delivered a championship in his first season, then watched the organization dismantle its core roster through trades and free agency departures. Mookie Betts, David Price, Xander Bogaerts, and Rafael Devers all eventually left the team. Chris Sale, plagued by injuries during his Boston years, was traded to Atlanta and won the National League Cy Young Award last season with the Braves.
The manager was suspended for one season in 2020 after MLB found he was a ringleader of an illegal sign-stealing scheme during his time with Houston's championship club. He stepped down voluntarily and was succeeded by Ron Roenicke, then returned when his suspension ended. Since his comeback, the Red Sox have posted a mixed record, reaching the playoffs twice but losing in the wild card round both times and finishing last in back-to-back seasons.
This year's disappointment centers on failed offseason moves. The team gave Rafael Devers a decade-long, $313.5 million contract but traded him away when conflicts arose over a positional shift to accommodate free agent signing Alex Bregman, who departed after just one season. The third base position has been a particular weakness, with utility player Caleb Durbin batting .165 in 24 starts.
Cora finished with a 620-541 record as Red Sox manager. According to Sportradar, he became the first skipper since 1887 to be fired after winning a game by 16 or more runs. That dubious distinction previously belonged to Bob Ferguson of the New York Metropolitans, who was dismissed after an 18-2 victory on May 30, 1887. The Metropolitans folded shortly after.
Chad Epperson, who manages the Red Sox Double-A Portland affiliate, will serve as interim third base coach, while Worcester hitting coach Collin Hetzler joins the major league coaching staff.
Author James Rodriguez: "It's a remarkable turn of fate that Cora built one of the greatest regular seasons ever in Boston only to get run out after years of roster mismanagement from above his pay grade."
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