It doesn’t look like Alex Cora will be on another big league field in 2026. Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe writes that the former Red Sox captain plans to spend time with his young sons in his native Puerto Rico rather than jump directly into management. MassLive’s Chris Cotillo reported the same thing this morning, writing that Cora’s focus is on her family.
The 2018 World Series champion could have gotten a new opportunity within hours of being fired by the Sox on Saturday. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported this morning that the Phillies offered their managerial position to Cora before they settled on Don Mattingly as the interim captain through 2026. Philly baseball president Dave Dombrowski confirmed more or less at a press conference this afternoon.
Dombrowski maintained that there was a formal contract on the table, but confirmed that the job would have been Cora’s if she wanted it. Dombrowski told reporters (including Mark Feinsand of MLB.com) that he discussed the position with Cora on Sunday morning, less than 24 hours after Boston’s trade.
“We talked about whether he might take the job. I told him that I had come to the conclusion at that time that if he took it, I would make a change. I thought he might take it, but as time went on the next Monday morning, it was evident from his perspective that he wanted to spend time with his family,” said Dombrowski.
Cora and Dombrowski have a strong relationship dating back to their time together with the Red Sox. They progressed through the 2018-19 season, winning the aforementioned championship in the first season. Boston parted ways with Dombrowski at the end of a disappointing ’19 campaign. They fired Cora a few months later after his role in the Astros’ 2017 sign-stealing operation became public. Cora was suspended for one year, and the Red Sox rehired him after the 2020 season.
The second lasted five more seasons making him one of the highest paid managers in the game. Cora’s latest extension runs through 2027 and reportedly pays her $7.25MM per year. The Red Sox will continue to receive that amount if Cora does not take another managerial position in the meantime.
If another team hires him before his contract with Boston expires, his new salary will be removed from the Red Sox’s obligations. However, Feinsand reports that any recruiting team is required to pay the MLB manager “fair market value” β at least a few million dollars β to hire Cora rather than sign him for free and leave Boston on the hook for the entire deal. Of course, that could be a bad point if Cora decides not to pursue a career in 2027.
Cora’s conversation with Dombrowski about a possible reunion in Philadelphia came before the team announced it was firing Rob Thomson. Dombrowski decided that a change was needed and went through with that dismissal even after Cora passed. They informed Thomson of the decision Tuesday morning, about two hours before they made the official announcement (link via Matt Gelb of The Athletic).
Thomson met with reporters again on Tuesday. He said he had no problem with Dombrowski’s conversation with Cora while he was in charge. “I think Dave is just doing the best he can,” Thomson said (via Gelb). “He had made a decision and he was going to move forward. … Dave and I have a close relationship, but that doesn’t stop him from doing what’s right for the organization. I respect that.” The former skipper spoke highly of the team and said he would be “very happy” with a coaching position if the Phillies made him an offer (via Lochlahn March of the Philadelphia Inquirer).
