Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora entered the 2024 season in an uncomfortable situation where his contract is set to expire at the conclusion of the team’s year.
With rumors swirling that Cora is ready to leave his current role, this could be the final season that he manages the Red Sox.
On Tuesday, team president Sam Kennedy explained to WEEI why they kept Cora on a lame-duck contract.
“When we made the change, the very difficult change with Chaim Bloom, and we brought in Craig Breslow, it’s critical that our chief baseball officer, our head of baseball operations, has the authority to make that decision,” Kennedy said. “I don’t want to put it all on Bres, but we are putting it on Bres. It’s his decision. He will make that decision, and ultimately Alex will make that decision.
“The two of them need to have some time working together. It’s different, they were players together, they have a good relationship, their families know each other. But they need to see not only an offseason, spring training and the season… They need some time together to see what that relationship looks like.”
Cora has managed the Red Sox for six of the last seven seasons (sitting out 2020 due to a suspension). He’s led Boston to a 447-373 record (.545) in his tenure, including a 2018 World Series win.
However, the team has also finished last in the AL East the last two years. It’s hard to say a large percentage of the blame for the last two seasons is on him, but he should shoulder some responsibility.
Either way, it’s hard to argue that Cora’s not a good manager, and if he’s not back in 2025, Breslow better have a worthy replacement in mind.
Amy Cooper
Dede@10
Dream