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Red Sox Fire Cora, Six Coaches; Tracy Takes Over

5/2/2026

35 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Cora Fired

Following a 10-17 start, the U.S. Sox fired manager Alex Cora and six coaches on May 1, 2026.
Craig Breslow proposed the move, with president Sam Kennedy and owner John Henry debating it.
Breslow, Kennedy and Henry flew to Baltimore Saturday and told Cora at Four Seasons after a 17-1 win.
Triple-A manager Chad Tracy became interim manager as team went 2-2 and opened homestand without Cora versus the Astros at Fenway.

Summary

Cora Sign-Stealing

The 2020 MLB report confirmed Alex Cora, then bench coach of the Astros, directed the team’s illegal sign-stealing.
He installed a video-room monitor that displayed the center-field camera feed directly outside the dugout.
Cora served a 2020 season suspension, apologized, and said he would regret the act forever.
Despite the scandal, he led Boston to the 2018 World Series title, a feat that media still cite when discussing his firing.

Summary

Breslow Picks Contreras

Craig Breslow, Red Sox President, chose catcher Willson Contreras over a free-agent power hitter.
Willson Contreras hits well, yet his production suffers because he often bats with bases empty.
The Red Sox kept all five outfielders, forcing rotation by Alex Cora.
Breslow traded reliever Brennan Bernardino for outfielder Braiden Ward, a move redundant because Nate Eaton is in Worcester, while analysts predict the 2026 Red Sox may have one All-Star.

History

Historical Context

In November 2019 reporters exposed the Houston Astros’ 2017-18 video-camera sign-stealing scheme. MLB’s January 2020 report suspended manager A.J. Hinch and GM Jeff Luhnow, fined the club $5 million, and stripped two draft picks, while bench coach Alex Cora was dismissed by the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox’s May 1 2026 firing of Cora and six coaches shows the league’s enforcement of those sanctions.

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Cora Fired

Following a 10-17 start, the U.S. Sox fired manager Alex Cora and six coaches on May 1, 2026.
Craig Breslow proposed the move, with president Sam Kennedy and owner John Henry debating it.
Breslow, Kennedy and Henry flew to Baltimore Saturday and told Cora at Four Seasons after a 17-1 win.
Triple-A manager Chad Tracy became interim manager as team went 2-2 and opened homestand without Cora versus the Astros at Fenway.

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