Why did the Red Sox fire Alex Cora? Boston makes massive changes to staff after 10-17 start

Massive changes are on the way for the Boston Red Sox.

The franchise, after a 10-17 start to the 2026 season, is firing six coaches, including manager Alex Cora, per ESPN's Jeff Passan.

With one of the league's more talented rosters while playing in an always-competitive AL East, Boston is clearing house just weeks into the new season.

Here's what to know about the Red Sox firing Cora and more coaches.

MORE: Breaking down the Phillies' active losing streak

Why did the Red Sox fire Alex Cora?

Boston decided to take a drastic step in response to a slow start in 2026. While there have been other teams underachieving despite high payroll, such as the Mets, Astros and Phillies, it's the Red Sox who become the first team to fire their manager. Cora had guided Boston since 2021, his second stint as the team's manager after winning a title in his first.

It was a near full-house clean for the Red Sox, also firing four other coaches. According to Spotrac, the team is currently carrying the 12th-highest payroll in MLB at $193.7 million, with star power in Trevor Story, Jarren Duran, Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, Garrett Crochet and Ranger Suarez. Among those players, Crochet (6.30 ERA), Story (.198 batting average), Duran (.549 OPS) and Anthony (.225 batting average) are all having slow starts.

Boston, after losing in the Wild Card to the Yankees last season, decided a full coaching staff change was necessary; the team has made the postseason just once in the last four years.

After starting out 10-17, which is currently last place in a loaded AL East, the Red Sox will be hoping a change in leadership will help re-ignite their stars for the rest of the 2026 season. So far in 2026, Boston has ranked 29th among 30 MLB teams in OPS (.641), 27th in batting average (.226) and 26th in runs scored (95).

"Alex Cora led this organization to one of the greatest seasons in Red Sox history in 2018, and for that, and the many years that followed, he will always have our deepest gratitude," Red Sox Principal Owner John Henry said in a statement, per Chris Cotillo. "He has had a lasting impact on this team and on this city. He has led on and off the field in so many important ways. 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. 

"I want to thank Alex, our coaches, and their families for everything they have given to this organization. They have been part of this club in a way that goes beyond the field, and they will always have our respect and gratitude."

Cora was on a three-year, $21.75 million extension he signed in 2024, per Buster Olney.

What other coaches did the Red Sox fire?

Despite winning 17-1 on Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles, their largest win margin of the season so far, the Red Sox parted ways with the following coaches, per Passan and the team:

• Manager Alex Cora
• Hitting coach Peter Fatse
• Bench coach Ramon Vasquez
• Third-base coach Kyle Hudson
• Assistant hitting coach Dillon Lawson
• Major league hitting strategy coach Joe Cronin

Additionally, game-planning coach Jason Varitek is being reassigned to a new role in the organization, per Chris Cotillo, which has not yet been specified.

Who will act as Red Sox manager?

The Red Sox's interim manager will be Chad Tracy, per Chris Cotillo.

He is being promoted from Boston's Triple-A in Worcester, where he has been the manager since 2022. 

Additionally, according to Bob Nightengale, Chad Epperson will be Boston's interim third base coach and Collin Hetzler will be a member of the new hitting staff.

Alex Cora career record

• 619-541 (.534)

Cora, who initially joined the Red Sox in 2018 after being the Astros' bench coach, had two different stints in Boston. After winning a World Series with the franchise in 2018, he was let go by the team in 2019 after the details of Houston's electronic sign-stealing scandal.

However, the Red Sox brought Cora back in 2020 as manager, and he led the team to 92 wins in 2021 and an ALCS berth. However, since then, the team has stagnated a bit - the Red Sox won 78 games in both 2022 and 2023, finished exactly .500 in 2024, then lost in the Wild Card in 2025.

Here's a look at Cora's career record: