The Boston Red Sox fired manager Alex Cora and five coaches on Saturday night, hours after a 17-1 victory over Baltimore, citing a disappointing 10-17 start to the 2026 season.
Cora, who had managed Boston since 2018 and led the team to a World Series title that year, was informed of his dismissal at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore by principal owner John Henry, CEO Sam Kennedy, and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. The decision came despite the team’s largest margin of victory in the modern era for a manager’s final game, a 16-run win that stood as the most lopsided in franchise history under those circumstances.
Alongside Cora, hitting coach Pete Fatse, third-base coach Kyle Hudson, bench coach Ramón Vázquez, assistant hitting coach Dillon Lawson, and major-league hitting strategy coach Joe Cronin were all let go. Pitching coach Andrew Bailey, first-base coach José David Flores, catching instructor Parker Guinn, bullpen coach Chris Holt, and assistant hitting coach John Soteropulos were retained. Game-planning coach Jason Variket was reassigned to a new role within the organization, details pending.
The Red Sox turned to Triple-A Worcester manager Chad Tracy, 40, to serve as interim manager beginning Sunday’s game against the Orioles. Tracy, who has led Worcester since 2022 and previously managed or coached in the minors since 2015, received the news while still in the dugout during a Triple-A game, prompting him to leave immediately for Baltimore. Double-A Portland manager Chad Epperson was named interim third-base coach, and former Worcester hitting coach Collin Hetzler joined the major-league staff as a hitting coach.
Cora’s tenure with Boston ended with a 620-541 record, placing him third in franchise history for managerial wins. He was hired in October 2017 after playing for the team from 2005 to 2008. His first season yielded a franchise-record 108 wins and an 11-3 postseason run. Cora was suspended by MLB in 2020 for his role in the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal as their bench coach in 2017, but returned to Boston in November 2020 after a mutual agreement to part ways before the suspension was formalized. He signed an extension in 2024 that kept him under contract through 2027.
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The team’s struggles this season extended beyond the win-loss record. Boston ranked among the American League’s worst offensive units, averaging just 4.1 runs per game. After opening 2-8, the Sox showed signs of improvement before losing six of seven games, setting up the 17-1 victory that preceded the firings. Boston had returned to the postseason in 2025 with an 89-73 record but were eliminated by the Yankees in the Wild Card Series.
Henry, who likewise owns The Boston Globe, issued a statement praising Cora’s impact: “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.”
Breslow did not respond to requests for comment. The timing of the dismissals surprised observers, coming just hours after the team’s most dominant performance of the season. According to The New York Times, Cora had been approximately 45 minutes late to a media session on Friday, an uncharacteristic delay that some viewed as an early sign of tension. Around 6:30 p.m. On Saturday, two coaches heading to dinner told a colleague they’d see each other again the next day — only to be informed of their dismissals half an hour later.
This follows our earlier report, White Sox vs Marlins: Grand Slam & Hays HR Highlight 9-4 Win.
The move marks the first time the Red Sox have dismissed a manager mid-season since 2001, when they parted ways with Jimy Williams in August. It also underscores the volatility of a roster constructed under Breslow’s leadership, which the Times noted lacked cohesion entering the season.
Who will manage the Red Sox on an interim basis?
Chad Tracy, the manager of Triple-A Worcester, will serve as interim manager starting with Sunday’s game against the Orioles at Camden Yards.
Which coaches were retained after the firings?
Pitching coach Andrew Bailey, first-base coach José David Flores, catching instructor Parker Guinn, bullpen coach Chris Holt, and assistant hitting coach John Soteropulos were the only major-league coaches to retain their positions.
What was Cora’s overall record with the Red Sox?
Alex Cora compiled a 620-541 record over eight seasons as manager, ranking third in franchise history for wins.
When was Cora previously dismissed by the Red Sox?
Cora was first dismissed in January 2020 after being suspended by MLB for his role in the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal; he returned to the team in November 2020.
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