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Red Sox Appoint Worcester’s Chad Tracy as Interim Manager

4/28/2026

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Summary

Tracy Named Interim Manager

The Boston Red Sox named Worcester manager Chad Tracy interim manager of the United States club on April 27, 2026.
After Alex Cora and several coaches were dismissed following Boston’s 17-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles, Craig Breslow said the club trusts Tracy but may still explore other candidates.
Tracy guided the Worcester WooSox to 79-win seasons in 2023 and 2024, with sixteen Red Sox players developing under him.

Summary

Cora Settles Contract

Boston will pay Alex Cora more than $10 million to settle the balance of his contract.
Cora’s three-year, $21.75 million extension, signed in July 2024, is now in its second year.
Owner John Henry flew to Baltimore and attended the meeting where the firing was announced.
The dismissal marks the franchise’s first mid-season manager removal since 2001.

Summary

Story Challenges Red Sox

Shortstop Trevor Story called the Red Sox’s explanation for the coaching purge inadequate and will meet GM Craig Breslow.
The Red Sox hired Driveline founder Kyle Boddy as a special adviser to embed data-driven pitching and hitting.
Driveline alumnus John Soteropulos was promoted to Red Sox hitting coach after Alex Cora’s dismissal.
GM Craig Breslow said the moves give the team 135 games to pursue a fresh, metrics-focused direction.

History

Historical Context

In 2002 Billy Beane, then GM of the Oakland Athletics, used sabermetric analysis to guide a $41 million payroll to a league-best 103-win season and a 20-game winning streak. The success sparked league-wide adoption, leading Boston Red Sox owner John Henry to hire analytics staff Kyle Boddy and promote John Soteropulos under manager Chad Tracy. The move signals era of data-driven roster building in MLB.

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Tracy Named Interim Manager

The Boston Red Sox named Worcester manager Chad Tracy interim manager of the United States club on April 27, 2026.
After Alex Cora and several coaches were dismissed following Boston’s 17-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles, Craig Breslow said the club trusts Tracy but may still explore other candidates.
Tracy guided the Worcester WooSox to 79-win seasons in 2023 and 2024, with sixteen Red Sox players developing under him.

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