Red Sox Rumors: Mark Kotsay Linked to Manager Job After Alex Cora's Exit

The Boston Red Sox are reportedly showing interest in former MLB outfielder Mark Kotsay, who currently serves as the Oakland Athletics' quality control coach, for their managerial vacancy. 

Chris Cotillo of MassLive reported as such Wednesday after the Red Sox and manager Alex Cora mutually agreed to part ways in mid-January amid his links to the sign-stealing scandals that have engulfed Boston and the Houston Astros this offseason.

The club's list of potential candidates also includes two internal options, bench coach Ron Roenicke and third base coach Carlos Febles, per Cotillo.

Kotsay spent time with seven teams during his 17-year MLB career, which concluded after the 2013 season with the San Diego Padres. He made 49 appearances for the Red Sox across parts of the 2008 and 2009 campaigns.

He was also a Golden Spikes Award winner during his standout collegiate career at Cal State Fullerton.

The 44-year-old California native started his coaching career as the Padres' hitting coach in 2015. He joined the A's as their bench coach for the 2016 season before transitioning to quality control in 2017.

In October, Kotsay told John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle he was interested in becoming a manager at the major league level.

"Managing a team would interest me, for sure," he said. "This is priority No. 1 here [with the A's]. When the time comes, if I get that opportunity to be part of the process, I'd definitely be open to that."

The Red Sox are one of MLB's most talented teams heading into the 2020 season. Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers, J.D. Martinez and Chris Sale headline a championship-level core, though trade rumors have floated around the club all winter.

Yet, Boston is coming off a disappointing playoff-less season while trying to defend their 2018 World Series title, and the potential for punishment looms amid an MLB investigation into allegations of video replay room misuse as reported by Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich of The Athletic.

The team hasn't announced a timetable for picking a new manager, but pitchers and catchers report for spring training in two weeks (Feb. 12).