According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, the Boston Red Sox are bringing back Alex Cora as manager for the 2021 season. Fellow insider Ken Rosenthal confirmed Heyman’s report Friday morning.
Cora will return to baseball after a one-year suspension due to his role in the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal dating back to the 2017 season. The Red Sox also faced accusations of illegal sign-stealing during the 2018 season. After an investigation, MLB docked the Red Sox a 2020 second-round pick and banned video replay operator J.T. Watkins from doing the same job through both 2020 and 2021.
The Red Sox went 108-54 and won the 2018 World Series in Cora’s first season as manager. They went 84-78 and missed the playoffs the following year. Under Ron Roenicke in 2020, the Red Sox went 24-36 in the coronavirus-shortened season and finished in last place in the American League East.
Heyman added on Twitter that ownership and key players supported Cora’s return, but chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom was allowed to make the final call on the hire.
Follow the Boston Red Sox and Major League Baseball at 985TheSportsHub.com.