Red Sox Rehire Manager Alex Cora
The man that led the 2018 Boston Red Sox to a world championship will return to the dugout. Alex Cora was relieved of his duties this year following the “cheating” scandal during his time with the Houston Astros. After a one year hiatus, Cora returns to his job.
Jon Heyman of MLB Network was the first to report the news:
Heyman also added details after breaking the news. Sam Fuld was a legit candidate. President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom was fond of Fuld during his time with the Rays. Bringing back Cora was Bloom’s decision. The Sox flew to Puerto Rico to meet with Cora. It felt like a done deal from that moment.
Cora will replace Ron Roenicke, who had a short-lived time as manager. Boston finished 24-36 during a rebuilding season. Trading Mookie Betts and injuries to Chris Sale – Eduardo Rodriguez made it a challenging proposition for the Sox to compete this year.
The Red Sox have work to do this offseason. The entire bullpen needs to be fixed. The rotation also needs significant work. The offense is already ready to compete, but Boston needs about ten quality pitchers to get back in the mix.
Cora was the logical choice after leading the Sox to a championship two years ago. He’s well-liked within the organization. Players like Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers, and Eduardo Rodriguez must be thrilled to have their manager back.
The return of Cora doesn’t automatically make the Sox contenders again. However, it’s a step in the right direction and brings leadership back into the clubhouse. Now we will wait to see what Boston does this Winter to rebuild the roster.
