Red Sox Fire Manager Alex Cora, Former Ace Chris Sale Reacts

On May 14, 2026, the Boston Red Sox terminated manager Alex Cora and several coaches. The club was 23-31, last in the AL East, and had just beaten the Braves 8-0. Interim manager Chad Tracy took over, but the front office gave no detailed rationale.

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Cora led Boston to the 2018 World Series title, earning league respect. The 2026 season saw the Red Sox struggle, prompting action. The firing came less than two months after Cora was reportedly offered the Philadelphia Phillies managerial job.

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• Alex Cora – Former Red Sox manager (2018-2026), World Series champion, now a free agent.

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• Chris Sale – Nine-time All-Star, traded to Atlanta in 2023 for Vaughn Grissom; current Braves ace.

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• Boston Red Sox – MLB franchise currently in a rebuilding phase.

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• Sale posted 46 wins and a 3.27 ERA in six Red Sox seasons (115 games).

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• Sale, the 2024 NL Cy Young Award winner, has a 1.89 ERA with 72 strikeouts in 62 innings this season.

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The Red Sox have not provided a public explanation for Cora’s dismissal. Chad Tracy was praised for steadying the club, though performance has not noticeably improved. In an interview with WEEI’s Rob Bradford, Sale expressed personal shock and praised Cora’s ability to connect with players across cultures, noting they still text each other.

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Observers question firing a manager described as “beloved by current and former members of the organization” who quickly attracted interest from the Phillies. The timing—mid-season after a decisive win—has fueled speculation about internal expectations versus on-field results.

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• “I think I was probably just as shocked as everybody was,” — Chris Sale, former Red Sox ace

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• “You know, anytime something like that happens, it kind of sends waves throughout the baseball world.” — Chris Sale

Boston.com

• “You can be from Japan, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mississippi, Washington, Florida, whatever. He will find a way to connect with you. It’s my third year here in Atlanta, and even over the last three years, I have talked to him as much as anybody. Through the offseason, he will shoot me a text or after a game or something like that. ... He does a really good job of connecting with each individual person, no matter who they are, or where they are from.” — Chris Sale

Sports Illustrated

• “You can be from Japan, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mississippi, Washington, Florida, whatever. He will find a way to connect with you. It’s my third year here in Atlanta, and even over the last three years, I have talked to him as much as anybody. Through the offseason, he will shoot me a text or after a game or something like that. ... He does a really good job of connecting with each individual person, no matter who they are, or where they are from.” — Chris Sale

Sports Illustrated

Boston will remain under interim leadership while exploring long-term managerial options. Sale is scheduled to start at Fenway later this week, underscoring his personal connection to the club. The Red Sox’s performance for the rest of the 2026 season will likely dictate further front-office moves.

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