Red Sox fire manager Alex Cora amid sign-stealing scandal

Posted January 14, 2020 12:00 am

By Jimmy Golen AP Sports Writer

FILE - In this Oct. 28, 2018, file photo, Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora waits for the start of Game 5 of the baseball World Series between the Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles. Cora was fired by the Red Sox on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, a day after baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred implicated him in the sport's sign-stealing scandal. Associated Press

BOSTON - The Boston Red Sox fired manager Alex Cora on Tuesday, a day after baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred implicated him in the sport's sign-stealing scandal.

Cora was the bench coach for the Houston Astros when they won the 2017 World Series and led Boston to the title the following year in his first season as manager. Astros manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow were fired on Monday, an hour after Manfred suspended them for the 2020 season for their role in the cheating scheme.

Manfred's nine-page report mentioned Cora 11 times, saying he was among those who "originated and executed" aspects of the cheating scheme, in which the team used a center field camera to decode catchers' signals to pitchers and banged on a trash can with a bat or massage gun near the dugout to let hitters know which pitch was coming.

MLB had also been investigating allegations the Red Sox had stolen signs en route to their 2018 World Series championship.

Cora met Tuesday with Red Sox management.

"Given the findings and the commissioner's ruling, we collectively decided that it would not be possible for Alex to effectively lead the club going forward and we mutually agreed to part ways," the team said in a statement attributed to owner John Henry, chairman Tom Werner, CEO Sam Kennedy and Cora.

The Red Sox begin spring training in less than a month.

Boston went 84-78 last season, a year after winning a franchise record 108 times.

FILE - In this March 20, 2019, file photo, Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora looks over the lineup before the team's spring training baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota, Fla. Cora was fired by the Red Sox on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, a day after baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred implicated him in the sport's sign-stealing scandal. Associated Press

FILE - In this Oct. 23, 2017, file photo, Houston Astros bench coach Alex Cora watches batting practice during media day for baseball's World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, in Los Angeles. Houston manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow were suspended for the entire season Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, and the team was fined $5 million for sign-stealing by the team in 2017 and 2018 season. Commissioner Rob Manfred announced the discipline and strongly hinted that current Boston manager Alex Cora - the Astros bench coach in 2017 - will face punishment later. Manfred said Cora developed the sign-stealing system used by the Astros. Associated Press

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