BOSTON, MA - APRIL 05: Alex Cora #20 of the Boston Red Sox is announced before the Red Sox home opening game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on April 5, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)10 months ago, the Boston Red Sox made the difficult decision to fire manager Alex Cora for his role in the Houston Astros cheating scandal.
“Today we met to discuss the Commissioner’s report related to the Houston Astros investigation,” the Red Sox said at the time.
“Given the findings and the Commissioner’s ruling, we collectively decided that it would not be possible for Alex [Cora] to effectively lead the club going forward and we mutually agreed to part ways.”
Well, 10 months later, the team reversed its decision. On Friday morning, MLB insider Jon Heyman announced the Red Sox are bringing Cora back as the team’s manager.
“Breaking: Alex Cora is back as Red Sox manager,” he reported.
Breaking: Alex Cora is back as Red Sox manager
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 6, 2020
Houston cheated its way to a World Series title during the 2017 season. Following the cheating scandal, the Astros received a $5 million fine and loss of the team’s 2020 and 2021 first-round picks.
Manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow both received a one-year suspension as well. Cora, who was the team’s bench coach at the time, was fired by the Red Sox after the allegations came to light.
Now, just under a year later, Hinch and Cora are back in the game. Hinch took over as the manager for the Detroit Tigers earlier this offseason. Just a few weeks later, Cora found himself back as the Red Sox manager.
Cora led the Red Sox to a World Series title in 2018. After missing the playoffs in 2019, the two parted ways. Now he’s back.
