Jump to content
Talk Sox
  • Create Account
  • Red Sox News & Analysis

    Red Sox Fire Alex Cora, Most of MLB Coaching Staff In Shocking Pivot

    The Boston Red Sox announced that Alex Cora and five members of his coaching staff were relieved of their duties Saturday evening.
    Nick John

    By Nick John

    Image courtesy of © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

    Red Sox Video

    The Boston Red Sox dismembered their coaching staff on the heels of a 17-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles.

    Manager Alex Cora was relieved of his duties. Along with him, bench coach Ramón Vázquez, third-base coach Kyle Hudson, assistant hitting coach Dillon Lawson, hitting coach Peter Fatse and hitting strategy coach Joe Cronin were also fired.

    Also, Game Planning and Run Prevention Coach Jason Varitek will be reassigned from his position as planning and run prevention coach to a new, currently unannounced position.

    Cora was in the middle of his three-year extension he negotiated in the second half of 2024. He won 620 games during his time as manager of the Boston Red Sox with 108 of them coming in his first season in 2018. That season culminated in an AL East title along with a World Series championship. Teams under Cora never reached that same level again, missing the playoffs in 2019 before he was suspended for all of 2020 due to his involvement in the Houston Astros cheating scandal. Upon his return in 2021, Cora led the Red Sox to the American League Championship Series. After that, the team suffered three consecutive losing seasons before making the playoffs in 2025.

    After a 10-17 start in 2026, the organization decided it was best to part ways with the manager and most of his coaching staff. 

    Worcester Red Sox manager Chad Tracy will take over as interim manager of the Boston Red Sox. Tracy had been the manager of the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox since 2022 and has been viewed as a great up-and-coming manager who is excellent with young players. During his time in Worcester, Tracy managed several of the young players currently on the Red Sox roster including both Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer and had been voted the best managerial prospect in both 2023 and 2024.

    Entering the 2026 season, Tracy had won 309 games as the WooSox manager and had a winning season in each year. So far in 2026 the Worcester Red Sox had a record of 13-11 under him.

    Prior to joining the Boston organization, Tracy worked in the Los Angeles Angels organization from 2015 through 2021. He also played eight professional seasons in the Rangers, Rockies and Royals organizations.

    Joining Tracy in Boston will be Chad Epperson as the interim third base coach. Epperson has been the manager of the Portland Sea Dogs since 2022. Collin Hetzler will join the major league hitting staff after being the hitting coach in Worcester since 2025.

    With this move, the Red Sox appear to be looking to have a manager with a history of developing young players to now handle a roster that is mixed with both young, up-and-coming talent and veteran leadership.

    What are your thoughts? Is this the right decision? Is it better to do it now, or would it have been better to wait?

    Follow Talk Sox For Boston Red Sox News & Analysis

     Share
     Share
    Go to articles

    Recent Red Sox Articles

    Recent Red Sox Videos


    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    Featured Comments

    TedYazPapiMookie

    TedYazPapiMookie 31

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    WE JUST REVERSED THE CURSE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Tremendous news.  It's a joke that Cotillo gave Cora credit for 2018.  They won DESPITE him.  Just shows the quality of knowledge some people around the organization have.  Henry was right when he said Cora had a lasting impact on the team and thank God it's over!!!!   The anvil has been lifted off the backs of the players, the corruption associated with the man is no longer tied to the Red Sox.  This is a great, great day for the organization, the baseball fans and the players from the past who no longer have be embarrassed by an association with a convicted cheater.  We removed the stain from the organization.  

    Now let's go get a 3B, a catcher, a 2B and a 1B or welcome back Casas when he's ready.  Baseball rosters are about knowing what type of players are needed at each position.  We need a catcher who knows how to handle pitchers, can hit and has the ability to throw out runners.  You know, like Teel.  Next, we need big bats at the corner infield spots and great defenders at those spots.  Trade for Arenado and Goldschmidt and move Contreras back to catcher.  Trade for Xavier Edwards by sending Mayer and Abreu to Miami.  That would make the starting line-up highly competitive on offense with Contreras at C, Arenado at 3B, Story at SS, Edwards at 2B, Goldie at 1B, Anthony in LF, Duran in CF and Rafaela in RF with Yoshida DH.  Arenado is a leader and would shape up the clubhouse and if Varitek is manager, he and Arenado are cut from the same cloth.  No more I don't give a damn attitude from the Manager, the team will be about competing not keeping everyone on the bench happy.  

    This team can turn things around now.  I'm extremely excited about today's change.  It's an 8-year mistake that needs to be forgotten just like Devers' defense.



    Create an account or sign in to comment

    You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

    Create an account

    Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

    Register a new account

    Sign in

    Already have an account? Sign in here.

    Sign In Now

×
×
  • Create New...