Red Sox Fire Manager Alex Cora, Five Others In Shocking Housecleaning

[jdc69]

53 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Around the league, several general managers describe the Red Sox as a franchise embroiled in an identity crisis. They carry the expectations of a big-market team — ticket prices, media scrutiny, historical weight — while behaving like a risk-averse small-market team. The result is a club that neither maximizes its financial advantages nor fully commits to restraint, judging by the $130 million invested in pitcher Ranger Suarez and the total of $7 million spent on free-agent additions Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Danny Coulombe. Spending is reserved for moments when projections suggest overwhelming odds, not merely a competitive window. And as long as Fenway fills, jerseys sell and hope flickers each spring, the model holds. Winning the World Series becomes a nice surprise rather than the goal.

I thought it was great that they were voted the best, if not one of the best farm systems in the league. Just constantly buying all stars doesnt guarantee success. If you are a big market team, you have the luxury to start small and then spend big, getting the best of both worlds. Whats wrong with that as an identity?

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

They failed to replace them "in kind," and that hurt the team in 2019, as did the drop off in SP results.

The 2019 team was still very much good enough on paper opening day to win it all, but the small market mentality had already begun. The summer of 2019 almost saw the trade of Betts, so let's not forget that as further evidence the change was underway. The departure of DD followed soon afterwards.

They started off 9-15 due to resting their starters after a playoff run. Many teams have World Series hangovers. They still had an 87-75 Pythag. Henry just didn't want to invest in the team anymore. He didn't want to keep Betts anymore. DD didn't want to be the GM that traded Betts, so he couldn't pull the trigger on a deal. Henry dumped DD because they weren't aligned. We heard all about roster flexibility and building around young players after that. Why would a revenue behemoth need to go that route?!?!? It doesn't make sense. It had never been that way before and they had a ton of success with that model.

The new Red Sox baseball isn't working. It just isn't. Fenway is packed with visiting fans. The team is not typically playing playoff caliber baseball. They may be making money now, but they are slowly losing the zeitgeist and it could be very hard to get it back. 

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, jdc69 said:

I thought it was great that they were voted the best, if not one of the best farm systems in the league. Just constantly buying all stars doesnt guarantee success. If you are a big market team, you have the luxury to start small and then spend big, getting the best of both worlds. Whats wrong with that as an identity?

They aren't doing the second part! That's the problem. Build the farm AND spend. The offseason spending was a wet fart of half measures as they all have been for several years. 

[iortiz]

The front office believed in David Hamilton despite trading him to the Brewers. When he returned to Fenway in April and played well, the FO began to question the coaching staff’s developmental process with young guys:

"Why do a lot of players go to other places and get better? Why do other guys come here and get worse?"

[mvp 78]

11 minutes ago, sk7326 said:

Obviously, ownership wants to make money - let's get that out of the way.  But the Red Sox at this point are a mint, so let's set that aside.

Management has - especially in the last decade, though it's always been there - never been able to articulate what it wants the club to be.  The vision to be a draft, develop and pay is sensible - but it's hard not to think that a lot of the fruits of the farm system have been rushed up and extended (see Kristian Campbell) so ownership can be like "SEE??  Look at all the prospects we have!".  But if that doesn't click in the maximalist way - it tacks the direct opposite way.  Finish in last?  Sign Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval to show fans you are trying.  

Marcelo Mayer is a classic example.  He gets promoted super aggresively because he appears on top prospects list, and so let's see what top prospect we have!  But then he struggles - or shows the cake is not fully baked and now he is a platoon player.  The answer is you either have to let him take his lumps in the show (see Pedroia 2006-7), or you send him down and let him mash at Worcester.  But we get this sort of purgatory instead.  I almost fear that Franklin Arias will be promoted if he does well to take Story's job - not because he is ready, but because management wants to show a shiny object to the Nation. 

Yeah, I think there just is a lack of an organizational plan because of meddling from people outside of the CBO's office. There needs to be one voice and just have the org head in that direction. If that direction fails, so be it. There's been too much zigzagging lately (ex. 2022 deadline trading Vaz, but pulling back and not trading anyone else). Their messaging and actions can sometimes be incoherent. 

[sk7326]

14 minutes ago, jdc69 said:

I thought it was great that they were voted the best, if not one of the best farm systems in the league. Just constantly buying all stars doesnt guarantee success. If you are a big market team, you have the luxury to start small and then spend big, getting the best of both worlds. Whats wrong with that as an identity?

The alarming thing is the downward spending pressure throughout.  Like, I think of the increased reliance on Driveline and the downsizing of the scouting department.  This was cost cutting, but also represents a false choice.  Like, Boston should be shooting MORE money at the farm - after all, there's no cap on how much you can spend on the infrastructure.  

The model a big market team like Boston should be following is essentially the Dodgers model - even if your big league payroll does not get THAT high.  The top of the farm system gets the time to develop and be ready fro big league spots.  At the same time, you have enough depth to trade and pay for the big league club.  Put another way, you want a farm system healthy enough that you can make Garret Crochet trades whenever a restaurant quality veteran pops up.  

The team seems to be wanting to show the appearance of their prospects leading the way - without really asking whether the prospects are ready to do it.  

[notin]

27 minutes ago, sk7326 said:

Obviously, ownership wants to make money - let's get that out of the way.  But the Red Sox at this point are a mint, so let's set that aside.

Management has - especially in the last decade, though it's always been there - never been able to articulate what it wants the club to be.  The vision to be a draft, develop and pay is sensible - but it's hard not to think that a lot of the fruits of the farm system have been rushed up and extended (see Kristian Campbell) so ownership can be like "SEE??  Look at all the prospects we have!".  But if that doesn't click in the maximalist way - it tacks the direct opposite way.  Finish in last?  Sign Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval to show fans you are trying.  

Marcelo Mayer is a classic example.  He gets promoted super aggresively because he appears on top prospects list, and so let's see what top prospect we have!  But then he struggles - or shows the cake is not fully baked and now he is a platoon player.  The answer is you either have to let him take his lumps in the show (see Pedroia 2006-7), or you send him down and let him mash at Worcester.  But we get this sort of purgatory instead.  I almost fear that Franklin Arias will be promoted if he does well to take Story's job - not because he is ready, but because management wants to show a shiny object to the Nation. 

Was Mayer really promoted super aggressively?  25 of the 36 players picked in his draft round have already debuted.  
 

I do agree on not platooning him and letting him take his lumps…

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, sk7326 said:

The alarming thing is the downward spending pressure throughout.  Like, I think of the increased reliance on Driveline and the downsizing of the scouting department.  This was cost cutting, but also represents a false choice.  Like, Boston should be shooting MORE money at the farm - after all, there's no cap on how much you can spend on the infrastructure.  

The model a big market team like Boston should be following is essentially the Dodgers model - even if your big league payroll does not get THAT high.  The top of the farm system gets the time to develop and be ready fro big league spots.  At the same time, you have enough depth to trade and pay for the big league club.  Put another way, you want a farm system healthy enough that you can make Garret Crochet trades whenever a restaurant quality veteran pops up.  

The team seems to be wanting to show the appearance of their prospects leading the way - without really asking whether the prospects are ready to do it.  

Yeah, that first paragraph is really frightening. Even just spending the average amount on scouting should be nothing to Boston. They've gone so far in the other direction that it will be hard to turn back the other way if this doesn't work out. 

[sk7326]

1 minute ago, notin said:

Was Mayer really promoted super aggressively?  25 of the 36 players picked in his draft round have already debuted.  
 

I do agree on not platooning him and letting him take his lumps…

Considering how much baseball he has not played due to injuries?  Yes.  And remember - Mayer was selected out of high school ... a slightly slower ETA is no big deal.  He's still only 23!

[sk7326]

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Yeah, that first paragraph is really frightening. Even just spending the average amount on scouting should be nothing to Boston. They've gone so far in the other direction that it will be hard to turn back the other way if this doesn't work out. 

Yeah - that is my worry.  I mean, Bloom came from Tampa of course, but Tampa certainly did not skimp on that stuff.  It's why they have been so able to punch above their $$ weight.  

[notin]

Just now, sk7326 said:

Considering how much baseball he has not played due to injuries?  Yes.  And remember - Mayer was selected out of high school ... a slightly slower ETA is no big deal.  He's still only 23!

Half his draft round was out of high school.  Jackson Merrill was selected out of high school 23 picks after Mayer and is starting his third full season in MLB.  Now THAT was super aggressive promotion, especially with his prospect rankings not as good as Mayer’s.

Mayer should play everyday, preferably at SS.  There will be growing pains we have to deal with.  Thats part of life…

[JoeBrady]

4 minutes ago, notin said:

Was Mayer really promoted super aggressively?  25 of the 36 players picked in his draft round have already debuted.  
 

I do agree on not platooning him and letting him take his lumps…

I think the Mayer development is about perfect.  He had his 1400+ PAs in the minors, with good production.

[mvp 78]

The #1 overall draft pick Henry Davis made it to MLB in '23, but he's been pretty rough. I think in terms of being rushed, I don't necessarily agree for Marcelo. If you look at the rest of the High School guys from his 1st round, he's not at the top of the pack or really being left behind. Seems like his development was in line with expectations. He wasn't Jackson Merrill. 

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, sk7326 said:

Obviously, ownership wants to make money - let's get that out of the way.  But the Red Sox at this point are a mint, so let's set that aside.

Management has - especially in the last decade, though it's always been there - never been able to articulate what it wants the club to be.  The vision to be a draft, develop and pay is sensible - but it's hard not to think that a lot of the fruits of the farm system have been rushed up and extended (see Kristian Campbell) so ownership can be like "SEE??  Look at all the prospects we have!".  But if that doesn't click in the maximalist way - it tacks the direct opposite way.  Finish in last?  Sign Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval to show fans you are trying.  

Marcelo Mayer is a classic example.  He gets promoted super aggresively because he appears on top prospects list, and so let's see what top prospect we have!  But then he struggles - or shows the cake is not fully baked and now he is a platoon player.  The answer is you either have to let him take his lumps in the show (see Pedroia 2006-7), or you send him down and let him mash at Worcester.  But we get this sort of purgatory instead.  I almost fear that Franklin Arias will be promoted if he does well to take Story's job - not because he is ready, but because management wants to show a shiny object to the Nation. 

I think Mayer was promoted because he was ML ready defensively, cheap and looking at our 2Bmen over the last 8-9 years, batting .650 has been the norm.

[Donnie Sadler was short]

On 4/26/2026 at 12:15 AM, iortiz said:

Feels like this team is run by a mafia.

 

just sell the team man. 

Today I settle all family business.  So dont tell youre innocent Alex...it insults my intelligence.

[jdc69]

3 hours ago, sk7326 said:

  The team seems to be wanting to show the appearance of their prospects leading the way - without really asking whether the prospects are ready to do it.  

If that is true, it is so asinine. Its treating people like throwaway parts. Use up, throw away, get the next in line, using them making millions of dollars as leverage to do their bidding. Edit - It certainly fits in the way they said JH didnt talk to the team at all and Breslow spoke about 2 minutes after that massive firing.

I would like to know the real story behind Cora and Breslow. I thought it was Cora that was the analytics guy but I've heard people say by firing Cora, analytics wins.

[moonslav59]

44 minutes ago, jdc69 said:

If that is true, it is so asinine. Its treating people like throwaway parts. Use up, throw away, get the next in line, using them making millions of dollars as leverage to do their bidding. Edit - It certainly fits in the way they said JH didnt talk to the team at all and Breslow spoke about 2 minutes after that massive firing.

I would like to know the real story behind Cora and Breslow. I thought it was Cora that was the analytics guy but I've heard people say by firing Cora, analytics wins.

I do think one reason we held onto 5 OF/DHs was to cover for a possible sophomore slump by Anthony.

Mayer was not handed the job, and we added IKF, Durbin & Monasterio over the winter as coverage.

Campbell was handed the FT job, last spring, and we had very little behind him, but there was some hope for a DHam-Romy platoon.

We started this season with Tolle & Early in AAA.

[Hitch]

Fair questions. 

[moonslav59]

I'm not sure a .605 DHam would have made a difference. He did better in 2024 under Cora & Co.

[JoeBrady]

42 minutes ago, Hitch said:

 

Fair questions. 

That whole thing, like most other small sample analytics, make no sense.  Hamilton played much, much, much better for us than he has for Mil.

[drewski6]

6 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

They started off 9-15 due to resting their starters after a playoff run. Many teams have World Series hangovers. They still had an 87-75 Pythag. Henry just didn't want to invest in the team anymore. He didn't want to keep Betts anymore. DD didn't want to be the GM that traded Betts, so he couldn't pull the trigger on a deal. Henry dumped DD because they weren't aligned. We heard all about roster flexibility and building around young players after that. Why would a revenue behemoth need to go that route?!?!? It doesn't make sense. It had never been that way before and they had a ton of success with that model.

The new Red Sox baseball isn't working. It just isn't. Fenway is packed with visiting fans. The team is not typically playing playoff caliber baseball. They may be making money now, but they are slowly losing the zeitgeist and it could be very hard to get it back. 

Really, we are 8 years into a rebuild and it feels like we are in year 1 or 2.

[drewski6]

Im of the opinion that we got decent utility out of Dham.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, JoeBrady said:

That whole thing, like most other small sample analytics, make no sense.  Hamilton played much, much, much better for us than he has for Mil.

They must have been blown away that another team would play him at SS, and somehow that convinced them they failed DHam.

Not.

[JoeBrady]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

They must have been blown away that another team would play him at SS, and somehow that convinced them they failed DHam.

Not.

It's Boston.  He got a hit in the opening game of the series, and they assumed he was a 1.000 OPS hitter.  He's the same Hammy he has always been.  A very good bench piece but a marginal fulltime piece.

Folks in here must Olympic figure skaters from the number of 180s I've seen.

[JoeBrady]

For the record, most players don't change that much from year to year.

[Larry Cook]

Tobino ( our former GM) has Washington ahead of us, the Mets and the Phillies! 

[moonslav59]

So, would people like Brez more if he...

signed Alonso over the Contreras trade

signed Bregman over Suarez

traded for Nate not Gray

[Larry Cook]

Just now, moonslav59 said:

So, would people like Brez more if he...

signed Alonso over the Contreras trade

signed Bregman over Suarez

traded for Nate not Gray

I think bres-slow’s offseason was, for the most part,  money!!!! But he should have done more to sure up the bullpen!! 

I think some of the pitchers were hurt by a lack of work caused by the wbc:   Suarez, Whitlock, weissert, and bello!  
Innings jump 24 to 25 has given crochet a bit of a dead arm. 

i think the hitters got caught in the middle of a power play between bres-slow and Cora. 
 

bres-slow - wanting to develop the youngsters (hitting, fielding, base running and other fundamentals development),  while adhering to the philosophy of drivetime (launch angles and hitting the ball in the air)!  

cora - veteran loyalty. Time served and dues paid. Youngsters have to earn playing time, very little working with the youngsters on developing fundamentals, because Cora thinks big leaguers should know this stuff already. 
and most importantly, Cora and fatse not emphasizing the principles of drivetime! 
 

I think bres-slow’s philosophy is the best route for our team going forward and I think he is trying to unify the organization top to bottom under his one philosophy! The problem is bres-slow is a poor communicator and really needs to enroll in a dale Carnegie course!!!  

[moonslav59]

21 minutes ago, Larry Cook said:

22 minutes ago, Larry Cook said:

I think bres-slow’s offseason was, for the most part,  money!!!! But he should have done more to sure up the bullpen!! 

 

 

To add to the pen, then no IKF signing, or no Oviedo trade- trade for a pen arm not him.

Hindsight there woulda been nice, but I think the Suarez and Contreras deals are looking pretty good.

Sonny Gray needs to comeback.

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

So, would people like Brez more if he...

signed Alonso over the Contreras trade

signed Bregman over Suarez

traded for Nate not Gray

You forgot Bichette instead of Durbin.