The Boston Red Sox found themselves in a precarious situation to start the season.
Amid a 10-17 record to start 2026, manager Alex Cora was fired.
The pressure of the Boston market can be overwhelming and unforgiving.
Former Red Sox manager Terry Francona knows this.
On “The Show with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman”, Francona was asked about his reaction to Cora’s firing.
Francona, who will be undoubtedly enshrined in Cooperstown when he decides to retire, knows the ups and downs of being a manager in Boston.
After all, he won championships in 2004 and 2007 and was ultimately fired in 2011 after a 90-win season.
What Did Former Boston Red Sox Manager Terry Francona Say?
Given his experiences with the Boston market, Francona was more than happy to answer Sherman and Heyman’s questions about his former player.
Cora played with Boston under Francona from 2005 to 2008.
“You never want to see somebody lose their job,” Francona said. “It doesn’t feel good ever. And so most of these guys are pretty good friends of mine. Like, Cora’s one of my favorite people in the world. It does happen, unfortunately, and it’s part of the job, and you kind of know that going in.”
Now with the Cincinnati Reds, Francona realizes that every seasoned manager will eventually face this kind of challenge.
“It’s nice to know you can go through a tough period,” Francona said. “And not necessarily, people are just going to point fingers and say, ‘Well, it had to be you, so we got to have a sacrificial lamb.’
“Sometimes the best way to go about it is figuring things out together. And that’s how I feel here [with Cincinnati]. And I’m glad about that because I don’t know if I want to be in that situation.”
Cora finished with a 620-541 with the Red Sox.
What’s Next for Cora?
While Philadelphia Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski asked Cora to take over the team after the firing of manager Rob Thomson, the former Boston manager declined.
Dombrowski and Cora had a preexisting relationship in Boston, where the two won a World Series together in 2018, Cora’s first season as manager.
Cora would go 108-54 with Boston, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games for the championship.
However, it appears Cora is content to sit out the remainder of the 2026 season while spending time with family.
Was it the right move, though?
The Philadelphia Phillies are not likely to make a major turnaround amid a 10-19 record. With the Phillies already 10.5 games back in the division, it will be difficult to make the postseason in a loaded National League.
Historically, interim managers are not guaranteed a job with the team the next season, making Cora’s decision likely a strong one.
He will likely be a hot commodity among teams in need of a new manager in the offseason.
Like HEAVY’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on HEAVY
The post Former Red Sox Manager Reacts to Cora’s Firing appeared first on HEAVY.