As the early stage of the MLB regular season rolls on, the Boston Red Sox have been one of the more disappointing teams in baseball. Coming into opening day, they were viewed as a top 10 team.
Now, they sit near the bottom of the American League at 12-19. Amid the poor start, the Red Sox suddenly fired longtime manager Alex Cora on Saturday in a sweeping move that also sent home several other coaches.
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The decision was ultimately made by chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. The firings instantly sparked backlash online and players spoke publicly on how they felt about the decision.
“They’re some of the best coaches in the world, and they care more than anybody, and just felt like they didn’t get a fair shot,” veteran shortstop Trevor Story said.
He went on to express his dissatisfaction with Breslow’s explanation for the firings at a prior press conference.
“There just has to be more conversations,” Story said. “I wouldn’t say it was satisfactory.”
With an underperforming roster, Breslow clearly decided it was time to make major changes. But these changes aren’t a guarantee for success. Game management and coaching haven’t appeared to be Boston’s major issues.
The glaring problem that has hampered the Red Sox most is their hitting. Boston is ranked at or near the bottom of nearly all offensive metrics, despite coming into the season with batters that had solid outings in the World Baseball Classic.
Outfielder Jarren Duran has been particularly concerning, both in his behavior and his performance. His batting numbers have plummeted and he looks like a shell of his former self at the plate.
As of Thursday, he’s recorded just 17 hits in 100 at-bats this season.
This problem is only made worse by his behavior, reportedly dismissing reporters wordlessly when approached about the firings.
He was previously suspended in 2024, his best year at the plate, for using a homophobic slur towards a fan. Even after apologizing, Duren returned from his suspension wearing a shirt that said “f-ck ’em” across the front.
He’s not the only Red Sox player to be concerned about.
Boston’s pitchers are some of the highest paid in baseball, and they’ve largely underachieved this season. Through the 2029 season, Brayan Bellow is owed over $44 million dollars, but his pitching has not been on par with that pay.
One of his biggest issues is his fastball. His velocity has continued to fall over the last two seasons, and teams are having a field day at the plate as a result.
But as of late, Bellow’s struggles haven’t been mirrored by the other pitchers. Garrett Crochet and Ranger Suárez have thrown well recently, making it obvious that scoring is Boston’s biggest on-field deficiency.
On the surface, this slow start could be chalked up as exactly that and nothing more. But the sudden decision to let go of Cora and the other coaches has brought a new level of uncertainty to the team.
It signals desperation from Breslow and the ensuing response from players signals a lack of communication.
The Red Sox still have a few bright spots, though. Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu are playing well while Roman Anthony is finally showing signs of life at the plate.
For now, former player and Triple-A manager Chad Tracy is the interim manager for the Red Sox. Breslow said it’s undetermined if the team will stick with Tracy for the rest of the season.
“We could be [hiring a new manager]; it could also be that that Chad is exactly what, you know, what we’re looking for,” Breslow said. “We have full confidence in him. We believe that to be the case, but you know, any time a team is not performing, I think you have to look at all options.”
With all eyes on Boston, team owner John Henry has stayed silent throughout the chaos. But he’s shown a willingness to make changes, so Breslow’s job could easily be at risk if the Red Sox can’t figure it out.
James Parker is a sports writer for Ball Exclusives, follow him on X @TheJames_Parker
