Alex Cora not only played a huge role in the Astros’ massive cheating scandal, but bragged about it to a member of Red Sox before he got caught.

Evan Drellich revealed that Cora tidbit as part of a larger look at the Houston Astros’ cheating scandal in his new book, Winning Fixes Everything: How Baseball’s Brightest Minds Created Sports’ Biggest Mess, which is expected out on Feb. 14. As reported last week by Jason Mastrodonato in the Boston Herald, the book covers Cora’s “erratic nature and immaturity” that led to conflicts with then-Astros manager A.J. Hinch. Cora was Houston’s bench coach in 2017, when they won it all.

Fast-forward to 2018, more than a year before the Astros’ cheating came to light, and not only was Cora engineering another cheating operation, but speaking rather flippantly about the Astros’ ridiculous, borderline-sociopathic trash can-banging.

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  BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – AUGUST 23: Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora looks on during the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park on August 23, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

• Drellich wrote in the book that Cora would “occasionally talk about the Astros’ sign-stealing from 2017, even brag, sometimes in a late-night setting,” via the Herald. Cora allegedly said to at least one member of the Red Sox: “We stole that [expletive] World Series.”

  Cora continues to come off like, frankly, a man of low sportsmanship, low baseball character. Never mind all the gossip about his drinking, which is discussed in the book and also mentioned as part of a reported outburst on the Astros team bus in 2017. That could be a real personal problem that he has every right to fix without the constant intrusion of media leeches. But from a baseball standpoint, it’s fair to wonder if Cora learned anything from his (multiple) cheating scandals.

  In case you forgot … Cora was found to have exploited the video replay room to decode opposing teams’ signals during the 2018 season, when the Red Sox went 108-54 and won the World Series. But MLB did clarify that the Red Sox did not do this during the 2018 postseason or the 2019 regular season.

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  Apr 20, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora (13) watches batting practice before a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

• Cora was suspended for the entire 2020 season, then returned in 2021. The Red Sox promptly went 92-70 and made it to the American League Championship Series, where the aforementioned Astros beat them in six games. There’s been no hint of any new tomfoolery with Cora, who, with or without sign-stealing, has shown an ability to connect with players and get the most out of them.

  On the baseball field, Cora certainly isn’t the Red Sox’ problem. As long as he keeps his hands clean and the team can win baseball games without resorting to anything overly nefarious.

• Click here for complete Boston Red Sox coverage at 985TheSportsHub.com.

  Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @realmattdolloff. Check out all of Matt’s content here.

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