After a shocking 10-17 start to the season, the Boston Red Sox have fired manager Alex Cora and five coaches, the club announced on Saturday evening.
In addition to Cora, the club dismissed hitting coach Peter Fatse, assistant hitting coach Dillon Lawson, third base coach Kyle Hudson, bench coach Ramon Vasquez and hitting strategy coach Joe Cronin.
Chad Tracy, 40, the club’s manager at Triple-A Worcester since 2022, has been named interim manager. Game planning and run-prevention coach Jason Varitek will be reassigned to a new role in the organization.
“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,” Red Sox owner John Henry said in a team statement. “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.
“I want to thank Alex, our coaches, and their families for everything they have given to this organization. They have been part of this club in a way that goes beyond the field, and they will always have our respect and gratitude.”
Boston dipped to 9-17 after a 10-3 loss in Baltimore on Friday. The Orioles blasted six home runs and 20 hits in that rout. After Friday’s game, the Red Sox sat eight games behind the New York Yankees in the American League East.
But the Red Sox did exact a measure of revenge on Saturday, shellacking the Orioles, 17-1.
After serving as bench coach for the 2017 world champion Houston Astros, Cora was hired as manager in Boston in 2018. He led the Red Sox to a franchise-record 108 victories and a World Series title.
However, after the 2019 campaign, Cora was implicated in an MLB investigation involving sign-stealing by the Astros. MLB undertook an investigation into the Red Sox practices, but Cora and the Red Sox mutually agreed to separate before the 2020 season.
Cora, 50, was suspended for the 2020 season for his role in Houston, but returned to Boston as manager in 2021.
After missing the playoffs from 2022-24, the Red Sox returned last season, but lost a American League wild-card series to the New York Yankees.
Cora posted an eight-year regular-season record of 619-541 and postseason mark of 18-10.
