New MLB Rumors on Theo Epstein's Involvement in Alex Cora's Firing as Red Sox Manager

Six days after the Boston Red Sox dismissed most of their coaching staff, including manager Alex Cora, more details about the process leading up to that decision have come to light.

Per Sean McAdam and Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, one of the voices involved with the decision-making process that began on April 23 was Red Sox advisor/minority owner Theo Epstein:

"Discussions lasted throughout the day, with Breslow, Kennedy and Henry weighing their options. Also contributing to the discussions, some remotely, were team advisor/minority owner Theo Epstein, team chairman Tom Werner and Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon, according to sources.

"By the end of the day, the group had reached a consensus that a change was necessary. On Saturday morning, the trio of Henry, Kennedy and Breslow flew privately to Baltimore while the team prepared for a hastily-arranged noon start, made necessary by forecasts of heavy rain later in the afternoon. As Boston routed the Orioles, the decision-makers arrived at the team's hotel, The Four Seasons Baltimore."

The report notes that Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow went to principal owner John Henry and CEO Sam Kennedy on Friday as the team was getting ready to open a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles with the recommendation to fire Cora and several coaches.

After the Red Sox beat Baltimore 17-1 on April 25, setting a season-high in runs scored, Henry announced the firing of Cora and four members of his staff. The team was 10-17 at the time of the move, tied with the Kansas City Royals for the second-worst record in the AL.

Red Sox legend Jason Varitek, who had been working as a game-planning coach, was reassigned as part of the overhaul.

Chad Tracy replaced Cora as manager on an interim basis. The 40-year-old had been managing the Red Sox Triple-A affiliate in Worcester since the 2022 season.

Epstein is arguably the most influential front-office executive of the 21st century in MLB. He was the primary architect behind the 2004 Boston Red Sox and 2016 Chicago Cubs teams that won World Series titles, ending the two longest championship droughts in MLB in the process.

After a stint working for MLB as a consultant, Epstein indirectly returned to the Red Sox in February 2024 as a senior advisor for Fenway Sports Group that owns the franchise.

Epstein also has a minority ownership stake in the Red Sox through his role with FSG. His tenure as general manager overlapped with Cora's stint in Boston as a player from 2005 to '08.

Cora won two World Series titles with the Red Sox. His first one came as a player during the 2007 season, then again in his first year as manager in 2018. He finished his managerial tenure in Boston with a 620-541 record.