The Boston Red Sox organization, on Saturday, initiated a significant overhaul, parting ways with manager Alex Cora and five members of its major-league coaching staff. This sweeping dismissal follows a starkly underperforming start to the 2026 season, with the team holding a 10-17 record.
The departures include hitting coach Peter Fatse, third-base coach Kyle Hudson, bench coach Rámon Vázquez, assistant hitting coach Dillon Lawson, and major-league hitting strategy coach Joe Cronin. Game-planning and run-prevention coach Jason Varitek has been reassigned to a new role within the organization.
Stepping into the dugout, Chad Tracy, previously the manager of the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox, will assume interim managerial duties. His tenure begins immediately, with his first game slated for Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles.
Cora, who managed the Red Sox for over eight years across two stints, leaves with a compiled record of 620-541. His tenure included three postseason appearances and a 2018 World Series victory. Despite Saturday's emphatic 17-1 win over the Orioles, the team remains in last place in the American League East.
Read More: Red Sox Fire Manager Alex Cora After Slow 2026 Start
"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. He has led on and off the field in so many important ways."
- Team Statement (paraphrased)
The organizational shake-up is characterized by its speed and scope, happening just 27 games into the season. The team's aggressive approach to personnel changes reflects a deep concern over early-season performance, even overshadowing a notable win.
The firings bring to an end Cora's second tenure with the team. His previous stint saw considerable success, including the championship in 2018, yet the current season's struggles evidently proved too much to overcome.
