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Red Sox Axe Cora, Five Coaches After 17-1 Rout

4/29/2026

45 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Red Sox Fire

The Boston Red Sox fired manager Alex Cora and five coaches after a 17-1 loss, leaving the club 12-18 and last in the AL East.
Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow ordered the purge, clashed with hitting coach Pete Fatse, and staffed the team with his hires.
MLB general manager Jim Bowden warned that Breslow could be out within 18 months, with 135 games left to prove his plan.

Summary

Players Cry

Players Trevor Story and Wilyer Abreu were seen crying after manager Alex Cora’s dismissal, reflecting the roster’s emotion.
CEO Sam Kennedy called the next 24-48 hours “very emotional” in an April 28 WEEI interview, after which fan comments went sharply negative.
Fans have chanted “sell the team” at Fenway Park and criticized owner John Henry for staying silent despite reports he discussed the firing in Baltimore.

Summary

Cora Declines

Alex Cora turned down the Philadelphia Phillies' manager position to spend the summer with his family.
He called Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski on Saturday night as a mentor.
Dombrowski said they spoke Sunday morning about the job, noting Cora had never been fired.
The Phillies named bench coach Don Mattingly, 65, as interim manager, bringing 23 major-league seasons and an 889-950 record from the Dodgers and Marlins.

Summary

Cora Steps Away

Alex Cora sat out the remainder of the 2026 season to be with family, citing the Phillies’ 10-19 record.
Terry Francona said Boston’s market often makes managers sacrificial lambs.
He noted Cora’s 620-541 record, third on the Red Sox win list, would likely have passed Francona’s if he finished his contract.
Analysts expect Cora to be a hot commodity in the offseason as teams seek experienced leaders.

History

Historical Context

After 86 years without a title, the Red Sox hired Terry Francona in 2004, posted a 98-64 record and broke the ‘Curse of the Bambino’ with a World Series win. The franchise’s history of firing managers—Grady Little after the 2003 ALCS and later Alex Cora in 2024—reflects the front office’s pattern under owners John Henry, Tom Werner and president Larry Lucchino.

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Red Sox Fire

The Boston Red Sox fired manager Alex Cora and five coaches after a 17-1 loss, leaving the club 12-18 and last in the AL East.
Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow ordered the purge, clashed with hitting coach Pete Fatse, and staffed the team with his hires.
MLB general manager Jim Bowden warned that Breslow could be out within 18 months, with 135 games left to prove his plan.

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