BOSTON — In a stunning move just 27 games into the 2026 MLB season, the Boston Red Sox have fired manager Alex Cora along with four members of his coaching staff.
The team announced the moves Saturday evening after a dismal 10-17 start that has them sitting in last place in the AL East. The club parted ways with:
- Manager Alex Cora
- Hitting coach Peter Fatse
- Bench coach Ramón Vázquez
- Third-base coach Kyle Hudson
- Game-planning coach Jason Varitek — a Red Sox legend and two-time World Series champion as a player.
The decision comes amid widespread frustration with the team’s performance, particularly on offense and in consistent execution. Cora, who led the Red Sox to a World Series title in 2018 during his first stint as manager, returned in 2021 and had been in the second year of a three-year contract extension.
The Red Sox have not yet issued a detailed public statement on the firings or named interim replacements. No immediate comments from owner John Henry, CEO Sam Kennedy, or chief baseball officer Craig Breslow were available as of Saturday night.
Fan and Media Reaction The shakeup has ignited intense debate online and among fans. Many view it as a desperate panic move this early in the season, with critics arguing it scapegoats the coaching staff while shielding front-office decisions on roster construction and player development.
Others called the timing particularly odd, noting it followed a recent offensive outburst.