Breaking: The First Mangerial Firing of the 2026 Season

We have our first managerial firing of the season, less than a month in. The Boston Red Sox have relieved Alex Cora of his duties after a 10-17 start.

The Boston Red Sox fired manager Alex Cora, hitting coach Peter Fatse, bench coach Rámon Vazquez and game-planning coach Jason Varitek, sources tell ESPN.

While the Red Sox won today, they are 10-17 and in last in the American League East. Massive change is coming in Boston.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 25, 2026

In addition, the BoSox have also fired hitting coach Peter Fatse, bench coach Rámon Vazquez and game-planning coach Jason Varitek.

Cora is let go less than halfway into his three-year, $21.75 million deal he signed in the summer of 2024.

Huge move in Beantown to try to save their season before it gets out of hand.

They're currently in last place in the AL East, 7.5 games back of the first-place NY Yankees.

Boston won 89 games last season and made it into the playoffs. In the offseason, they spent $130 million on starting pitcher Ranger Suarez, and traded for another veteran rotation arm, Sonny Gray.

But at the plate, the BoSox are 27th in the majors in batting, with a .226 mark and even worse in home runs, tied for last overall, with an OPS that's 29th (.641).

One insider has already linked Cora to a potential job in Philadelphia.

Alex Cora will now be the hottest commodity for the next managerial vacancy, and it’s no secret that he has a close relationship with Phillies president Dave Dombrowski
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) April 25, 2026

Bob Nightengale points out that Cora has a "close relationship" with Phillies president and GM Dave Dombrowski. The Phils are also struggling out of the gate this season with an even worse record than the Red Sox, at 8-18. That, in fact, is the worst record in the entire major leagues.

It's possible, based on this speculation, that Cora might not be out of work for long (but that Rob Thomson might be on the unemployment line soon).