Red Sox Bringing Back Alex Cora As Manager

BOSTON — The Red Sox have reportedly picked Alex Cora to return as manager after a yearlong suspension from baseball.

MLB Network’s Jon Heyman said Friday morning the team opted for Cora, a favorite of not just fans but many of Boston’s young players.

Cora has seemed to have the inside track to be the Red Sox manager in 2021 almost immediately since the two parties agreed to part ways last offseason. He was suspended for the 2020 season because of his role in the Houston Astros cheating scandal.

Cora will be tasked with helping the franchise rebound from a pandemic-shortened, injury-plagued season.

Cora has won three World Series championships, one as a player in Boston and two as a manager in Boston and Houston.Subscribe

Heyman reported this week the Red Sox narrowed their choices down to Cora and Sam Fuld, the 38-year-old former Tampa Bay Rays player who has a relationship with Red Sox chief baseball executive Chaim Bloom.

The Sox decided to go with Cora, who led them to the World Series in his first year managing in 2018.

PEABODY, PATCH