Alex Cora Reflects on Red Sox Firing and Discusses Managerial Future
The former Boston manager opens up about his abrupt departure, his family's emotional ties to the city, and whether he plans to return to a Major League Baseball dugout.
Months after his sudden departure from the Boston Red Sox, former manager Alex Cora has opened up about the end of his tenure, his time away from baseball, and what the future holds for his career. Cora was dismissed by the organization on April 25, following a slow 10-17 start to the 2026 season. Speaking publicly for the first time since his firing during an appearance on the Baseball Isn't Boring podcast, Cora reflected on the abrupt end of a six-year run that included leading the franchise to a World Series championship in 2018.
Reflecting on the day he received the news, Cora recalled receiving a text message from chief baseball officer Craig Breslow upon arriving at the team hotel in Baltimore following a victory. When he saw that Breslow was meeting with team president Sam Kennedy and principal owner John Henry, he knew what was coming. Despite anticipating his own dismissal, Cora admitted that the fallout for his coaching staff was difficult to accept. He expressed frustration that hitting coaches Pete Fatse, Dillon Lawson, and Joe Cronin, along with bench coach Ramon Vazquez and third-base coach Kyle Hudson, also lost their jobs.
When evaluating the primary reason behind his dismissal, Cora offered a blunt assessment. He believes the team struggled because of its pitching rather than leadership issues. Up to that point in the season, the Red Sox posted the fifth-worst ERA in baseball, while the starting rotation struggled with a 5.08 ERA. Following management's adjustments, the pitching staff improved significantly over the subsequent three months, helping propel the team to the postseason under interim leadership.
Leaving Boston also brought emotional moments for Cora and his family. He shared a touching story about a car ride past Fenway Park shortly after his firing, during which one of his twin boys began to cry in the back seat. His fiancée, Angelica Feliciano, comforted the child, telling him that it was acceptable to cry because the city had been their home for years and the family would always love the Red Sox. Even after his departure, Cora noted that his children continued to root for Boston during their impressive summer turnaround.
In the wake of his dismissal, Cora took time away from the game, traveling to Europe and attending the World Cup, while also finishing the Chicago Marathon with a time of 4 hours and 29 minutes. During his time off, Philadelphia Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski—who previously worked with Cora in Boston—offered him the team's managerial opening during the 2026 season and again after the campaign concluded. Cora turned down the opportunities to prioritize time with his family, leading Philadelphia to ultimately elevate interim manager Don Mattingly to the permanent role.
Looking ahead, Cora is not fully committing to returning to a Major League Baseball dugout for the 2027 season, though he is not ruling it out entirely. Because he is still being paid by Boston through the upcoming season, he has the luxury of time to decide his next steps. Whether he ultimately chooses to interview for openings or remains on the sidelines, Cora remains reflective about his time in Boston and appreciative of the journey that brought him here.