Who's Next if Cora Leaves?
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Globe’s Abraham just wrote about it. It’s a thing and people are excited about his ability to connect w the emerging core.
Edwardo Perez spent some serious time dry humping Cora on SNB last night and was adamant the Sox NEED to get an extension done yesterday.
Ah well, I don't read PeteAbe and I tend to mute ESPN broadcasts most of the time.
I can certainly see the merits of a conversation about getting Cora signed to an extension right now. I don't really see the merits of talking about his potential replacement though.
I can certainly see the merits of a conversation about getting Cora signed to an extension right now. I don't really see the merits of talking about his potential replacement though.
He doesn’t have a contract beyond this season, he‘s pushed for ownership to “get greedy” at the deadline, and what this front office does in the next 22 days could determine if he even wants to return.
That being said, the answer to who his replacement might be is likely “Someone cheap”.
That being said, the answer to who his replacement might be is likely “Someone cheap”.
Chris Cotillo was speculating on Twitter that a potentiometer reason an extension isn’t being discussed is because Cora doesn’t want one. He emphasized he wasn’t reporting but reading tea leaves. Personally I don’t buy it but wanted to add the view point.
"Cora will be the next Craig Counsell" was definitely A Thing earlier in the season, meaning he'll get a huge managerial contract, whether from the Red Sox or elsewhere. But, uh, the Counsell deal isn't working out so well for the Cubs right this moment (although I couldn't begin to say if any of that is his fault).
That said, I went on record with this a while ago, and I'll stick to it: my prediction is that if Cora leaves before Breslow does, he will be replaced by Craig B.'s World Champion catcher: former Cubs manager David Ross!
That said, I went on record with this a while ago, and I'll stick to it: my prediction is that if Cora leaves before Breslow does, he will be replaced by Craig B.'s World Champion catcher: former Cubs manager David Ross!
As a card carrying and annual dues playing member of the "Fire Cora" club coming into this season, I have moved into the "Yeah, they should probably bring him back, but not really for Craig Counsel money if they can avoid it". I think he has earned the right to man the bench now that the team appears to be on the upswing.
That is, if he wants to stay, and I am really not convinced that he does.
To answer the OP, I honestly think if he moves on, it will be someone from outside of the organization whose name we haven't really considered yet, but I am not sure who that would be.
That is, if he wants to stay, and I am really not convinced that he does.
To answer the OP, I honestly think if he moves on, it will be someone from outside of the organization whose name we haven't really considered yet, but I am not sure who that would be.
At this point, I would assume the team would try to bring him back - but that he might ask for more money than this ownership team is willing to pay. Definitely will look bad if the Sox make a run at him and aren't able to bring him back.
I think he'd like to keep managing but for a team that will give him more say on the roster and a higher salary.
What makes you think he would leave? Why would he? When? Any links to anything that gives rise to your question?
Free agents often go to the highest bidder? If there's any truth to the idea that he would eventually like to move to the front office he has the opportunity to make some real money with one last contract. What the team does or doesn't do at the deadline may also factor into the decision.
If the Dodgers flame out again he probably gets a blank check from them. Roberts only has a year left on his deal which is parking meter money for them.
Why do you think those teams give the Manager say on the roster? Has Dombrowski, for example, ever done that?
It doesn't change our player payroll... pay him a gazillion dollars for all I care. He's proven that he can develop younger players and he's been much better with pinch running, hitting, and even improved his bullpen usage.
We just got rid of Chaim, and you want to become Tampa North again?
More seriously, I definitely want Cora back. I think that baseball managers have less an effect on the outcome of a season than any other major league head coach. Kevin Cash probably doesnt really make any of his own decisions, for example. That said, I think Cora has been fantastic at creating great team chemistry, which I think is probably the most important job a manager has. It’s not my money and it doesn’t do anything to the payroll, so they could give him any amount of money and I’d be fine with it.
There are members here who honestly believe they understand how to value contracts. Its cute to watch them try.
I think this is correct. The only other possibility I can think of is Toronto if he's willing to stick through their coming rebuild.
I don’t doubt that he can get a job managing at any number of places, but I can’t imagine he’s going to get significant control over the roster. That doesn’t seem very common these days.
Cora should stay. We'll see how it plays out, but he's a good manager in the clubhouse. That might be the most important part of being a manager.
I though cora was saying the *players* should be greedy about winning even more games, not that he was referring to ownership and spending.
I am not convinced that Cora wants out of Boston based on the evidence that he declined to tell reporters explicitly that he wanted to come back. Makes sense for both Cora and Breslow to play out the relationship, at least for a few months, and see how it goes. I think he'll be back.
I think he'll be back, but who knows. My sense is that these concerns and speculations get louder whenever the Sox are playing well to satisfy the people who are invested in seeing the team in disarray.
I think he'll be back, but who knows. My sense is that these concerns and speculations get louder whenever the Sox are playing well to satisfy the people who are invested in seeing the team in disarray.
I'm not as down on Cora as I've been in the past but I'm really not sure if I'd say he's a good manager (or bad manager). He makes a few decisions every season that I think are directly responsible for a loss, and inversely makes a few calls that turn into wins but over a full season they level out to a point that I think having almost anyone in his place would do fine. So he connects with the players and I think that that's worth something. His salary doesn't affect the luxury tax but I spend most of my time worrying personally about John Henry's fortune so that's my biggest concern. Would John be able to have a 3rd yacht if he pays Cora superstar money? Maybe.... but it's a concern.
My sense is that Cora is a very good manager who pines to work in and eventually run a front office. I hope he comes back but I wouldn’t be surprised at all if both he and the club decide there are better fits for each. He and Bloom seemed to never see eye to eye. I think most POBOs or whatever would prefer to hire their own manager, but ownership backed Cora strongly during Bloom’s tenure, which likely contributed to the strained dynamic. Breslow seems to have full control of the front office now, however, and it makes sense that he might want someone of his own choosing.
Restating that my fairly strong preference is for Cora to extend with the Sox, but I just don’t think it will be the end of the world if he doesn’t. I trust Brez to make a strong hire, perhaps with some whispered counsel from Theo. In this event, I do not want or expect it to be Bailey—let him continue his pitching coach dark arts—or Varitek. My sense is that it would be someone young, dynamic, and suitably datageek stat obsessed. That’s who Breslow is and that’s the kind of partner I suspect he will be comfortable with.
But, really, let’s just bring Cora back and let it rip.
Restating that my fairly strong preference is for Cora to extend with the Sox, but I just don’t think it will be the end of the world if he doesn’t. I trust Brez to make a strong hire, perhaps with some whispered counsel from Theo. In this event, I do not want or expect it to be Bailey—let him continue his pitching coach dark arts—or Varitek. My sense is that it would be someone young, dynamic, and suitably datageek stat obsessed. That’s who Breslow is and that’s the kind of partner I suspect he will be comfortable with.
But, really, let’s just bring Cora back and let it rip.
One situation that bears watching is Miami. I’m guessing Schumaker is fired and they might offer Cora “face of the franchise” type control, and he’s a Hurricane alum.
The Phillies love Rob Thompson and are in first place so I can't see an opening there. The Guardians are in first place with Vogt as a rookie manager so no opening there either. Mendoza is a rookie manager with the Mets and so far seems mediocre but New York has cycled through a lot of managers lately so they'd probably keep him more than this year. Seattle has been a bit of a disappointment this year so maybe there would be an opening Actually if Miami would spend money and wasn't a dumpster fire I could see Alex going there.
Anyway, I think Varitek might have a shot if the Red Sox stay in house to replace Cora. I put the odds of Cora staying at 50 50.
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Joey retires? Why so young. I thought Alex was the older of the two. Actually Joey is 11 years older than Alex, 59-48, according to BBREF.
I was focusing on teams with a potential manager need, a competitive talent level and/or willingness to spend, and a GM without long-established credentials that might not be interested in manager input. The exception to the latter is Dombrowski, but I was guessing he and Cora already had a good working relationship and track record.
The Dodgers check a lot of boxes, but I expect Friedman would be less interested in manager input... and the Dodger fans I know (for what that's worth) can't get over the Astros thing.
That said, I'm just spitballing from the cheap seats. I'd agree with @richgedman'sghost 's assessment that Cleveland was probably a dumb idea. OTOH, Toronto could be another opportunity.
And to be clear, I've always liked Cora more than most and really hopes he sticks around.
Seattle seems very committed to Servais, fwiw, I think he and Dipoto are tight. (They’ll probably fire him later this week now that I’ve written this)
I could see this but also see a big time “grass is greener” situation where Cora gets to call the shots for a few years and then gets the axe when things don’t go well.
Cora is very well liked in Boston. I don’t know what the FO dynamic is but imagine he also is very comfortable. Also, lest we forget but the Henry team clearly had a handshake agreement to bring him back after the suspension and they kept their word.
Alex could be manager for, if not life, a very long time here. You would think that there is some goodwill between the sides here to make things work. But who knows?
If this was meant to identify the teams that would clearly have zero interest in hiring Alex Cora, it's a decent start.
I'd like that too, but he looks like he's having some fun here with the boys
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHodZR7gTmY
I think that you'd want Bailey to continue to focus his efforts solely on the staff. If Cora and the Sox go their separate ways, I think that Ross is probably the answer (World Series hero, teammates with Breslow and Bailey, worked with Breslow at the Cubs, has experience in a large market).
Saying that, I feel that Cora is the second best manager the Sox have had in my lifetime. I don't want to see him go and hope that ownership brings him back. It seems to me that Cora and Breslow get along, unlike Cora and Bloom. So I put the odds at 60/40 that Cora comes back. All it takes is one team to throw crazy money at the guy in October/November or for Breslow to sell/not do anything at the deadline in two week for those odds to submarine.
Ross or someone with those qualities. Other than at the extremes, I think that baseball-strategically, there's some fungibility among managers.
I *think* it's safe to say that Cora won't want to leave because the organization is bereft of talent. That may not have been the case in February, as it's tough for the MLB manager to have a good grip on minor leaguers, or "old" pitchers with a new pitching coach. I suspect Cora is a believer in whatever Bailey's group is doing.
I think part of the Cora/Breslow "getting along" part will be their respective deadline views. I suspect that Cora was far from convinced that the deadline teams of 22 and 23 were positioned to contend as-is. He was right. Bloom was very wrong. And more so the second time. (I put that on Bloom; others believe that he was told to spend no money. I dont think he would have been canned if he was "just following" those orders, but I get that YMMV.)
To me, the deadline is the significant get-along dynamic, aside from Breslow simply wanting "his own guy" in there, in which case nothing else matters.
Problem is another team will come after Bailey if we don’t promote him. So might be an all or nothing situation.