HOUSTON — The New York Yankees’ arch nemesis stunned the baseball world on Saturday, as the Boston Red Sox fired manager Alex Cora following a 10-17 start to the season.
Boston also canned five members of Cora’s big league staff: hitting coach Peter Fatse, third base coach Kyle Hudson, bench coach Ramón Vázquez, assistant hitting coach Dillon Lawson and major league hitting strategy coach Joe Cronin.
Lawson previously served as the Yankees’ hitting coach; he was fired midway through the 2023 season.
Triple-A manager Chad Tracy will take over for Cora in an interim capacity.
With news of Cora’s dismissal starting to spread as the Yankees began their game against the Houston Astros on Saturday, Aaron Boone said that he was “very shocked” to learn of his friend’s firing.
“I wasn’t sure if it was true initially,” Boone said after an 8-3 win. “I had heard whispers of it as we were walking out. So certainly, surprising and probably caught us off guard.”
On Sunday, Boone added that he connected with Cora on Saturday night.
“Somebody of Alex’s stature in the game, and obviously being a division rival, and our chief rival, obviously caught us all off guard, shook the world, or shook us a little bit,” Boone said. “Like, ‘Man, who saw that kind of shakeup coming at this point?’ So look, as you know, Alex is a really good friend. I had a really good talk with him last night. He’s going to be fine and great.
“He’ll have many opportunities to do whatever he wants moving forward.”
The Red Sox had put together an impressive win hours before Cora was relieved of his duties, beating the Orioles, 17-1. However, they lost four straight games before that — including a three-game sweep at the hands of the Yankees in Boston — and were struggling with an underachieving pitching staff and a predictably bad offense.
Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, who constructed the failing roster, was retained. Cora, meanwhile, was let go despite being in the second year of a three-year, $21.75 million contract.
“Alex Cora led this organization to one of the greatest seasons in Red Sox history in 2018, and for that, and the many years that followed, he will always have our deepest gratitude,” owner John Henry said, referring to Boston’s most recent championship. “He has had a lasting impact on this team and on this city. He has led on and off the field in so many important ways. These decisions are never easy, but this one is especially difficult given what Alex has meant to the Red Sox since the day he arrived.
“I want to thank Alex, our coaches, and their families for everything they have given to this organization. They have been part of this club in a way that goes beyond the field, and they will always have our respect and gratitude.”
While Cora, who was also part of the Astros’ 2017 sign-stealing scandal, is now on the unemployment line, he is considered one of the better skippers in baseball. Odds are he won’t have a tough time finding a new job.
“I have a feeling he’ll do whatever he wants,” Boone said. “He’s a great manager, a smart, talented person that I’m sure will have a lot of opportunities available to him.”
Giancarlo Stanton (calf tightness) remained out of the lineup for the second straight game Sunday, but the Yankees were still holding out hope that he could avoid the injured list before their series finale against the Astros.
Boone said that the Yankees expect to make a decision one way or another on Stanton before Monday’s series-opener against the Rangers.
Should Stanton end up on the IL, Boone said Anthony Volpe (shoulder surgery) is “not necessarily” in play for the corresponding move. Boone anticipates Volpe playing in more rehab games this week; he wasn’t sure where that will be yet.
Volpe entered Sunday’s rehab game at Triple-A with a .273 average, one home run and a .713 OPS over seven minor league games. Boone noted that he’s still finding his timing at the plate.
“Still getting there,” Boone said, “but I know he feels really good and feels ready to contribute, too.”