Alex Cora was fired by the Boston Red Sox and may quickly become the new manager of the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies are set to return home to face the San Francisco Giants soon.
Key points
Alex Cora was fired by the Boston Red Sox.
Cora may soon manage the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Phillies play the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday.
Rob Thomson is the current manager of the Phillies.
Boston Red SoxPhiladelphia PhilliesSan Francisco GiantsRafael Devers
Thereās no time for Alex Cora to file for unemployment.
He might not even have time to get back to Fenway Park to clean out his office.
The Phillies, of course, already have a manager in Rob Thomson.
They also have a team thatās grossly underachieving, with the worst record in the National League, and on a 10-game losing streak entering play Saturday night against Atlanta.
It was a bit of a surprise that the Phillies kept Thomson after last season when they were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs again, signing him to an extension through 2027.
The Phillies didnāt think it would be fair to dump him. He led the Phillies to the postseason four consecutive years. He is well-liked. He is respected by the players and front office.
And Cora was still employed by the Red Sox.
The Athletics Lawrence Butler is tagged out by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as he tires to extend his double into a triple during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026.
Q&A
Why was Alex Cora fired by the Boston Red Sox?
Alex Cora was fired by the Boston Red Sox due to performance issues.
Who is the current manager of the Philadelphia Phillies?
The current manager of the Philadelphia Phillies is Rob Thomson.
When do the Philadelphia Phillies play the San Francisco Giants?
The Philadelphia Phillies are scheduled to face the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday.
What are the chances of Alex Cora managing the Phillies?
There is speculation that Alex Cora could be managing the Phillies very soon, possibly by their next home game.
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Cleveland Guardians mascot Slider interacts with fans during game against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field on April 17, 2026.
Washington Nationals right fielder Daylen Lile attempts to catch a ball hit for a single by the Pittsburgh Pirates' Jake Mangum during the first inning at PNC Park on April 16, 2026. The Nationals won the game, 8-7.
Milwaukee Brewers catcher Gary Sanchez wears a special chest protector to commemorate Jackie Robinson Day during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at American Family Field on April 15, 2026.
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Philadelphia Phillies mascot The Phillie Phanatic entertains fans during the game against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on March 31, 2026.
The Toronto Blue Jays' Kazuma Okamoto gets doused with ice water by teammates after a win over the Athletics at Rogers Centre on March 29, 2026.
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1 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Athletics Lawrence Butler is tagged out by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as he tires to extend his double into a triple during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026.
1 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Athletics Lawrence Butler is tagged out by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as he tires to extend his double into a triple during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026.
2 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Cleveland Guardians mascot Slider interacts with fans during game against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field on April 17, 2026.
3 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Washington Nationals right fielder Daylen Lile attempts to catch a ball hit for a single by the Pittsburgh Pirates' Jake Mangum during the first inning at PNC Park on April 16, 2026. The Nationals won the game, 8-7.
4 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Milwaukee Brewers catcher Gary Sanchez wears a special chest protector to commemorate Jackie Robinson Day during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at American Family Field on April 15, 2026.
5 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
April 13: The Pittsburgh Pirates' Spencer Horwitz celebrates a home run in the dugout while wearing a welder's hood during the 16-5 win over the Washington Nationals at PNC Park.
6 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
April 12: Philadelphia Phillies mascot, The Phanatic, entertains fans with local team mascots for a birthday celebration before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park.
7 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
April 11: The Tampa Bay Rays' Jonathan Aranda (left) celebrates with Ryan Vilade after hitting a walk-off single against the New York Yankees in the 10th inning of a 5-4 win at Tropicana Field.
8 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez acknowledges the fans after becoming the team's all-time leader in games played against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field on April 6, 2026.
9 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
A rainbow appears during the fourth inning during the game between the San Diego Padres and Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on April 6, 2026.
10 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
A fan dresses as the Pope claps during the first inning of the game between the Chicago White Sox and Toronto Blue Jays at Rate Field on April 5, 2026. The White Sox won the game, 3-0, to complete a three-game sweep of the Blue Jays.
11 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Pittsburgh Pirates' Konnor Griffin celebrates with a traffic cone after making his major-league debut in a 5-4 defeat of the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park on April 3, 2026.
12 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
A young Red Sox fan meets Tessie the Boston Red Sox mascot before the Red Sox's home opener against the San Diego Padres at Fenway Park on April 3, 2026.
13 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Cleveland Guardians players warm up as the launch of NASA's Artemis II is shown on the center-field video board at Dodger Stadium on April 1, 2026.
14 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez (6) and center fielder Jakob Marsee celebrate a victory against the Chicago White Sox at loanDepot Park on April 1, 2026.
15 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Fans try to catch a solo home run hit by the San Francisco Giants' Matt Chapman as San Diego Padres left fielder Nick Castellanos looks on during the third inning at Petco Park on March 31, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Philadelphia Phillies mascot The Phillie Phanatic entertains fans during the game against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on March 31, 2026.
17 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Toronto Blue Jays' Kazuma Okamoto gets doused with ice water by teammates after a win over the Athletics at Rogers Centre on March 29, 2026.
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Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Cincinnati Reds' Eugenio SuƔrez blows a bubble as he waits to bat against the Boston Red Sox at Great American Ball Park on March 28, 2026.
19 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The St. Louis Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt is doused with water by teammates after hitting a walk-off two-run single against the Tampa Bay Rays during the 10th inning at Busch Stadium on March 28, 2026.
20 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Fans react as the Milwaukee Brewers' Jake Bauers homers against the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field on March 26, 2026.
21 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Two F-35C planes from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron NINE Detachment Edwards Air Force Base perform a flyover before the Opening Day game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on March 26, 2026.
The worst-kept secret in baseball is that Dombrowski loves Cora from their days together in Boston, hiring him in 2017 and winning the World Series a year later.
While Dombrowski expressed his public support of Thomson three days ago, and insisted that his job is safe, Dombrowski didnāt realize that Cora was about to be fired.
If Cora had not signed his three-year, $21.75 million contract extension last summer, Cora likely would have managing the Phillies at the start of this season.
Now that Cora, 50, is available, the Phillies must quickly decide whether they want to remain patient with Thomson, wait until the end of the season to determine whether they want to pivot to Cora, or do they make a move now.
And if they do wait, whatās the chances Cora will still be unemployed?
You donāt think the New York Mets are asking themselves whether they should hire Cora now, and part with Carlos Mendoza?
You believe the Houston Astros will simply still stick with Joe Espada without making a call to Cora, their bench coach when they won the 2017 World Series championship, to at least gauge his interest?
Really, Cora, with a 620-541 career record, is the one with all of the power.
He still is being handsomely paid through 2027, and can just hang out in Boston with his family.
He can wait until the season is over, sit back, with a larger assortment of job opportunities to choose.
Or he can jump right back in the saddle, take a job now, and show the Red Sox just how foolish they are to dump him, along with five members of his coaching staff: hitting coach Peter Fatse, third-base coach Kyle Hudson, bench coach RamĆ³n VĆ”zquez, assistant hitting coach Dillon Lawson and major-league hitting strategy coach Joe Cronin.
And, oh, wouldnāt Dombrowski, fired himself by the Red Sox in 2019 ā just 10 months after winning the World Series ā love to stick it to the Red Sox.
Surely, Coraās firing wasnāt solely about the win-loss record. The Red Sox were 11-16 the following year after winning the World Series and werenāt contemplating firing Cora. They were 10-17 in 2022 and Cora was still safe. They hovered around .500 each of the last three seasons after 27 games and no worries.
Never since John Henry and Tom Werner bought the team in 2002 have they fired a manager during the season.
Only now was there an issue, likely philosophical differences that couldnāt be overcome between Cora and Craig Breslow, president of baseball operations, who heavily integrated Driveline philosophies into the organization.
āWe got a bunch of kids that are learning the game,āā Cora said Friday. āItās my job to keep teaching them the game.āā
Yep, not quite a ringing endorsement for the Red Soxās player development folks, with a major-league team that ranked last in homers (15) and slugging percentage (.335), and a pitching staff that was 27th in ERA (5.31).
If this was simply a matter of wins and losses, thereās no chance Cora would have been fired after their biggest victory of the season, 17-1 over the Baltimore Orioles.
The Red Sox actually had decided to fire Cora on Friday, and if their game Saturday wasnāt moved up four hours because of the threat of rain, Cora would have been fired Friday night or even Saturday morning. They simply couldnāt get Chad Tracy, the interim manager from Triple-A Wooster, Massachusetts, and his coaches into Baltimore quickly enough for the early start.
So, Cora stayed one final game.
And makes history, becoming the first manager to be fired after winning a game by at least 16 runs since the New York Metropolitans fired Bob Ferguson after and 18-2 victory over the Cleveland Spiders on May 30, 1887, according to Sportradar.
He leaves a winner, and becomes the latest champion to depart a dysfunctional organization, joining the likes of executive Theo Epstein, manager Terry Francona, and yes, Dombrowski.
