{"id":683072,"date":"2026-04-26T06:12:22","date_gmt":"2026-04-26T06:12:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/683072\/"},"modified":"2026-04-26T06:12:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T06:12:22","slug":"baseball-writers-fans-and-others-react-to-red-sox-firing-alex-cora","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/683072\/","title":{"rendered":"Baseball writers, fans, and others react to Red Sox firing Alex Cora"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBoston Red Sox\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t“This is a typical Red Sox move. They are known for scapegoating.”<\/p>\n

\"Boston
\n\tAlex Cora and several members of his staff were let go on Saturday evening. (Photo by: Barry Chin\/Globe Staff).\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBy Conor Ryan<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tupdated on April 26, 2026 | 1:42 AM\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

5 minutes to read<\/p>\n

The Red Sox are cleaning house in the midst of a disheartening start to the 2026 season, with Boston firing manager Alex Cora<\/a> and five of his coaches on Saturday evening.<\/p>\n

Even with Boston\u2019s disappointing 10-17 record to open the new season, the Red Sox\u2019 decision to overhaul a significant portion of its coaching staff before the calendar flips to May still stands as a seismic shakeup \u2014 especially for a manager who won a World Series title with Boston in 2018.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a look at some noteworthy reactions from several baseball writers, fans, celebrities, and others to the Red Sox\u2019 stunning move.<\/p>\n

Ken Rosenthal<\/p>\n

Fox Sports and The Athletic baseball writer\/broadcaster Ken Rosenthal gave his take on the Red Sox\u2019 decision to fire Cora during Fox\u2019s broadcast of Saturday\u2019s Dodgers-Cubs game.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was an absolute shocker. Cora was in the second year of a three-year, $21.75 million contract, so he\u2019s almost owed two-thirds of that.\u00a0 \u2026 Now the Red Sox. This is a typical Red Sox move,\u201d Rosenthal said. \u201cThey are known for scapegoating. But this one was shocking because of the contractual situation and because other managers seemingly are in more trouble.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of those managers is the Phillies\u2019 Rob Thomson. [The] Phillies have lost 10 in a row. And keep in mind, guys. Dave Dombrowski, Phillies president of baseball operations, is very close with Alex Cora from their time together with the Red Sox. I can\u2019t imagine Cora taking over the Phillies next week, but that\u2019s going to be speculated on as we go along here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jeff Passan<\/p>\n

ESPN baseball writer Jeff Passan \u2014 who broke the Cora news just before 7 p.m. on Saturday night<\/a> \u2014 elaborated more on the Red Sox\u2019s decision on SportsCenter later that night. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think it was a culmination of things. And look, there has been some disconnect between the manager Alex Cora and the front office led by chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, and that\u2019s manifested itself in this 10-17 start.<\/p>\n

The Red Sox have not looked good, and coming into this season, projections \u2014 internally, as well as externally from other teams \u2014 had them as a postseason team. And so if there is going to be blame to go around, it is going to be trained on the manager. And yet, unlike places like the New York Mets, the Philadelphia Phillies, even the Houston Astros, where there have been questions about whether they\u2019re going to be new managers, the Red Sox were decisive in this situation.\u201d<\/p>\n

As far as why the Red Sox made this move so early in the season, Passan said that Boston\u2019s top brass believes \u201cthe season can still be salvaged at this point.\u201d <\/p>\n

Buster Olney<\/p>\n

ESPN MLB writer Buster Olney was quick to note that Boston\u2019s coaching overhaul means that Boston is \u201cunequivocally Craig Breslow\u2019s organization\u201d moving forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Alex Cora fired less than halfway into a three-year, $21.75 million deal he negotiated in the summer of 2024. Jason Varitek dumped in April, in his 30th year affiliated with the Red Sox. Other coaches let go. This is unequivocally Craig Breslow’s organization.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) April 25, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Speaking to a \u201crival evaluator\u201d, Olney echoed some skepticism about the Red Sox\u2019 odds of pulling themselves out of this early-season tailspin.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Re: Red Sox, rival evaluator: \u201cHow does it make it better to fire one of the best managers in the game?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014 Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) April 25, 2026<\/a>
\nBob Nightengale<\/p>\n

USA Today baseball writer Bob Nightengale was quick to connect the dots between Cora and the Phillies \u2014 who are currently scuffling in the NL East. Nightengale acknowledged that Cora still has a close relationship with current Phillies exec \u2014 and former Red Sox president of baseball operations \u2014 Dave Dombrowski.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Alex Cora will now be the hottest commodity for the next managerial vacancy, and it\u2019s no secret that he has a close relationship with Phillies president Dave Dombrowski<\/p>\n

\u2014 Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) April 25, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Alex Cora was not even halfway through his 3-year, $21.75 million contract.
He will be managing again within a week if he chooses.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) April 25, 2026<\/a>
\nErik Boland<\/p>\n

Newsday Yankees beat reporter Erik Boland believes that Cora is held in much higher regard across MLB than Craig Breslow \u2014 who remains in place as Boston\u2019s chief baseball officer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Don’t cover the Red Sox (obviously) but can say this with 100 % certainty when it comes to the industry: Alex Cora is, overwhelmingly, considered far better at his job than Craig Breslow is at his. And it’s not remotely close.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Erik Boland (@eboland11) April 25, 2026<\/a>
\nStephen King<\/p>\n

Legendary horror writer \u2014 and ardent Red Sox fan \u2014 Stephen King didn\u2019t hold back about the state of the Red Sox after Cora\u2019s firing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Instead of firing Alex Cora, the Red Sox might consider firing the team.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Stephen King (@StephenKing) April 26, 2026<\/a>
\nBill Simmons<\/p>\n

Longtime Boston sports scribe and The Ringer founder Bill Simmons believed that Cora made his thoughts about Boston\u2019s roster construction abundantly clear in his final days as Red Sox manager.<\/p>\n

I mean\u2026 Cora just batted Monasterio 5th against the Yanks as an unofficial protest for how bad this roster is. I cannot say I\u2019m shocked. https:\/\/t.co\/5QqrgFeUPC<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) April 26, 2026<\/a>
\nJohn Henry<\/p>\n

As part of the Red Sox\u2019 announcement on Cora\u2019s firing, Red Sox principal owner John Henry released a statement about Cora\u2019s eight-season run with Boston.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlex 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,\u201d Henry said. \u201cHe 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kevin Pillar<\/p>\n

Former Red Sox outfielder Kevin Pillar \u2014 who played 30 games with the club in 2020 \u2014 didn\u2019t mince words about Breslow\u2019s standing in Boston\u2019s organization, sharing that he believes Boston let the wrong person go.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Nick Sogard<\/p>\n

Speaking to Tommy Cassell of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette<\/a>, WooSox infielder Nick Sogard shared his thoughts on Worcester manager Chad Tracy getting named as interim manager.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI think everyone felt like it was something that would absolutely happen at some point. Obviously, crazy circumstances. He addressed us, was super professional as always (and) acknowledged that he is bummed that a lot of his really close friends just lost their jobs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201c(I\u2019m) super excited for him, he deserves it. He\u2019s ready. He\u2019s someone that I\u2019ve grown really close with, obviously, over the years here. So I\u2019m just really happy that he\u2019s getting what we all feel like he deserves.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tony Massarotti<\/p>\n

Former Red Sox writer and current 98.5 The Sports Hub radio host Tony Massarotti wondered if Cora\u2019s comments after Boston\u2019s 17-1 win over the Orioles might have sealed his fate. <\/p>\n

Aaron Boone<\/p>\n

Yankees manager Aaron Boone was asked on Saturday night about Cora\u2019s firing \u2014 acknowledging that he was \u201cvery shocked\u201d to hear the news of Cora\u2019s exit. <\/p>\n

Aaron Boone said he was “very shocked” to learn about Alex Cora’s firing and the #RedSox<\/a> shakeup.<\/p>\n

Regarding Cora, Boone said, “I have a feeling he’ll do whatever he wants. He’s a great manager, a smart, talented person that I’m sure will have a lot of opportunities available to\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) April 26, 2026<\/a>
\nSection 10 Hosts<\/p>\n

Jared Carrabis and the fellow hosts of the popular \u201cSection 10\u201d Red Sox podcast were among the many who were shocked by Cora\u2019s ouster.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Truly stunned that Alex Cora is out as the manager of the Boston Red Sox. He ends up 3rd all-time in wins for Sox managers with 620. Never thought this would happen right now. Obviously the team has massively underperformed, but certainly didn\u2019t see this coming in April.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Steve Perrault (@Steve_Perrault) April 25, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Salute to Cora. 2018 was, in the words of Wilyer Abreu, the best experience I ever had.<\/p>\n

\u2014 C\u00e9ad M\u00edle F\u00e1ilte (@ColeyMick) April 25, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Alex Cora fired before Aaron Boone. Who would\u2019ve ever thought.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) April 25, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

By the way, I’ve been on record as a major Chad Tracy guy. Even talked about on radio last week why I think he’d be the first guy given a chance. Never understood the people who thought Varitek was next up. The org made it obvious that he was never in those talks. https:\/\/t.co\/Q20tCpnVlt<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) April 26, 2026<\/a>
\nLou MerloniAlanna Rizzo<\/p>\n

Alex Cora will only be unemployed as long as he wants to be. This isn\u2019t a Cora problem.<\/p>\n

\u2014 AlaNNa Rizzo (@alannarizzo) April 25, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Ma\u2019am, Cora will be employed tomorrow if he wants. This is a roster construction problem.<\/p>\n

\u2014 AlaNNa Rizzo (@alannarizzo) April 25, 2026<\/a>
\nTom CaronJoon LeeNick \u201cFitzy\u201d Stevens<\/p>\n

Nick \u201cFitzy\u201d Stevens \u2014 who was recently let go from WEEI\u2019s afternoon drive program last week<\/a> \u2014 gave his take on Cora\u2019s firing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Geez, little did I realize Alex Cora and I would have more in common this week than just a love of baseball<\/p>\n

\u2014 FitzyGFY \ud83c\udf7a (brew checkmark) (@FitzyGFY) April 26, 2026<\/a>
\nMichael Hurley\u00a0Alex Cora<\/p>\n

In a text to WEEI\u2019s Rob Bradford, the former Red Sox manager kept things brief about his exit from Boston. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m happy,\u201d he told Bradford.<\/p>\n

Alex Cora just texted: \u2018I\u2019m happy\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2014 Rob Bradford (@bradfo) April 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Cora later posted a photo on his Instagram account of himself and the coaches that were let go on Tuesday as they took a flight out of Baltimore. Jason Varitek delivered a thumbs-down as part of the photo. <\/p>\n

\t\t\"Profile\t<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.<\/p>\n

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