Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
The Boston Red Sox fired manager Alex Cora over the weekend following a 10-17 start to the MLB season. The front office met with players on Sunday.
The conversation was supposedly one-sided. Management kept players quiet. It refused to open the door for criticism.
Players were not invited to ask the bosses questions about Alex Cora’s firing and the situation.
“They made it very clear that we get paid to play baseball and we need to just focus on playing baseball,” Whitlock said. https://t.co/bZxiA6MRjl
— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) April 26, 2026
The Red Sox fired Alex Cora.
Cora was in his eighth season with Boston. He won a World Series in his first year. He’d been to the playoffs in two others, including last season.
Unfortunately, the results weren’t enough. He posted four records at .500 or below. A fifth seemed on the way.
The Red Sox had the seventh-best odds to win the World Series during spring training. Those odds have shifted following a slow start.
Boston dropped eight of its first 10 games. It’s been unable to make up much ground in the 17 games to follow. It proved too much for Cora to survive.
The manager was fired on Saturday. The decision was met with immediate backlash.
“Woke up to a text from a former Red Sox player who summed up Saturday’s moves: ‘It’s like s— your pants and changing your shirt.'”
Cora responded to the firing with a text on Sunday morning. He said he was “happy” after being let go.
Staff members, including former Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek, voiced their disgust with the news on social media.
Jason Varitek gives a thumbs down as the fired group of Red Sox coaches flies back to Boston (via Alex Cora’s IG story). pic.twitter.com/QoOIrhzPTC
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) April 26, 2026
Players were not given the opportunity to criticize.
Owner John Henry and President Sam Kennedy did not speak with players, according to Tim Healey of the Boston Globe.
Craig Breslow, the man believed to be responsible for Alex Cora’s removal, briefly met with the team.
Breslow is the Chief Baseball Officer for the organization. He is reported to have spoken to the team for two minutes in Sunday’s meeting. Interim manager Chad Tracy then talked for “3-5 minutes.”
Former players immediately ripped the decision. Kevin Pillar, for example, says it should’ve been Breslow relieved of his duties rather than the manager.
Current players have been vocal in their opposition of the move, too. Trevor Story said the staff didn’t get a fair shake. Roman Anthony, meanwhile, was blindsided.
“I don’t think anyone really expected it,” the outfielder responded when asked about the firing.
Players have been able to voice their unhappiness to the media. They were not given the chance to express criticism to the front office. Ownership wouldn’t allow it.
The Red Sox will now move on in hopes of turning the season around. We’ll see if the locker room can stick together despite its unhappiness with the coaching change.