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Red Sox president Sam Kennedy revealed that the decision to fire Alex Cora was made by Craig Breslow

The Boston Red Sox have made the first major managerial move of the 2026 campaign, as they decided to fire manager Alex Cora on Saturday night. Even with the team picking up a 17-1 blowout victory over the Baltimore Orioles earlier in the day, that wasn’t enough to save Cora’s job.

While fans have been clamoring for change, firing Cora isn’t what they were looking for. Instead, team owner John Herny, team president Sam Kennedy, and general manager Craig Breslow have faced the lion’s share of the blame for Boston’s slow start. And after Kennedy revealed some new details regarding the team’s decision to fire Cora, it’s safe to say that this group won’t be getting any more popular in the near future.

Sam Kennedy Pins Red Sox’s Alex Cora Decision on Craig Breslow

Cora had been with the Red Sox since 2018, save for the 2020 campaign, when the two sides decided to part ways after his involvement in the Houston Astros‘ sign-stealing scandal was revealed. In his first season as the team’s manager, Cora led Boston to a World Series title, but since then, he’s struggled to find a way to keep the Red Sox competitive.

While Cora deserves to shoulder some of the blame, much of that falls on the team’s front office and ownership. Breslow has faced significant financial restrictions during his time in charge as the team’s general manager, which have been put in place by Henry and company. So again, firing Cora is a move the team made in hopes of appeasing its fanbase, but it likely isn’t going to change the team’s fortunes in the immediate future.

Many folks would have preferred to see Breslow get fired instead of Cora, but considering how difficult it was to find a replacement for Cham Bloom a couple of years ago, it doesn’t seem like Breslow is going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, according to Kennedy, the decision to fire Cora and several other members of his coaching staff was made by Breslow.

“Red Sox president Sam Kennedy also made it clear that firing Cora and five members of his coaching staff was Breslow’s decision,” Bob Nightengale of USA Today shared in a post on X.

Where Do Red Sox Go After Firing Alex Cora?

GettyManager Alex Cora #13 of the Boston Red Sox looks on from the dugout during the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park on September 27, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

With Cora gone, Worcester Red Sox manager Chad Tracy has been made Boston’s new interim manager for the time being. Unfortunately, Cora’s firing isn’t going to change the fact that the leadership atop the Red Sox organization is a complete mess. Heck, Kennedy comments here were made only seconds after Breslow claimed this was a decision that everyone agreed to.

Simply put, the Sox are a mess, and until John Henry magically becomes uninvolved with the team, that is going to remain the case for the time being. On the field, Boston will look to pick up a series victory against Baltimore on Sunday, with Connelly Early taking the mound in a rubber match against Kyle Bradish.