The Boston Red Sox fired manager Alex Cora and five members of his coaching staff on Saturday, hours after the team's most lopsided victory of the young season. The move came with the Red Sox at 10-17 and in last place in the American League East, seven and a half games behind the New York Yankees.

Chad Tracy, who has managed Boston's Triple-A affiliate in Worcester since 2022, was named interim manager effective with Sunday's series finale against Baltimore. The club also promoted Chad Epperson to interim third-base coach and added Colin Hetzler to the major league hitting staff. Pitching coach Andrew Bailey and bullpen coach Chris Holt were retained. Jason Varitek, the game planning and run prevention coach, was reassigned within the organization.

Those dismissed alongside Cora included hitting coach Pete Fatse, third-base coach Kyle Hudson, bench coach Ramón Vázquez, assistant hitting coach Dillon Lawson, and major league hitting strategy coach Joe Cronin. The announcement marked the first in-season managerial change for Boston since 2001.

Red Sox president Sam Kennedy and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow addressed the decision during a Sunday news conference in Baltimore. Kennedy said Breslow initiated the move, calling it painful but necessary for a fresh start with 135 games remaining. "Ultimately, what matters is the performance on the field," Kennedy said. Breslow expressed belief in the players' ability to contend for the division and a deep postseason run.

Cora compiled a 620-541 record (.534 winning percentage) over eight seasons with Boston, including stints from 2018-19 and 2021-26. He led the 2018 Red Sox to a franchise-record 108 regular-season wins and a World Series title in his debut year. MLB suspended him for the 2020 season due to his role in the Houston Astros' 2017 sign-stealing scandal, when he served as their bench coach. The Red Sox rehired him in 2021. Cora signed a three-year, $21.75 million extension in July 2024.

The 2026 season began with promise after Boston added pitchers Sonny Gray and Ranger Suárez in the offseason, but the team stumbled out of the gate. A 1-0 Opening Day win over Cincinnati preceded a 2-8 skid in the first 10 games. The Red Sox offense ranked 23rd in runs per game at 4.15, while the pitching staff posted a 4.44 ERA. A three-game home sweep by the Yankees preceded the 17-1 outburst against Baltimore on Saturday, which was Cora's final game.

Player reactions were mixed. Shortstop Trevor Story called the front office explanation "not satisfactory" and said the franchise direction felt unclear. Outfielder Roman Anthony expressed optimism about Tracy. Pitcher Garrett Whitlock described the news as a "big shocker."

Early Sunday, Cora posted on social media that he was "happy" and shared a photo dining with the dismissed coaches. Breslow indicated the club could seek a permanent replacement or stick with Tracy, in whom he has full confidence.