Report: Cora, Red Sox close to finalizing contract extension originally appeared in NBC Sports Boston
After all, this may not be Alex Cora’s last season in Boston.
The Red Sox manager is in the final year of his contract, but according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the two sides have discussed a possible extension. Passan reported Wednesday that “there is momentum toward a deal” and “a multi-year contract is a real possibility.”
News: The Boston Red Sox and manager Alex Cora have engaged in recent negotiations over a contract extension and there is momentum toward a deal, sources and @Buster_ESPN. After months of silence about Cora’s situation, a multi-year contract is a real possibility.
-Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 24, 2024
ESPN’s Buster Olney reported that the contract being discussed is for three years, $21.75 million. This would be the second-richest contract for an MLB manager, behind Chicago Cubs’ Craig Counsell.
The deal the Red Sox and Alex Cora have been discussing, first reported by Jeff Passan, is in the three-year, $21.75 million range. It would be the second-highest salary for a manager, behind Craig Counsell’s five-year, $40 million contract.
– Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 24, 2024
Cora’s departure seemed like a foregone conclusion heading into the 2024 campaign. With the Red Sox coming off two consecutive last-place seasons, the common belief was that the 2018 World Series champion captain would leave for a contender once his contract expired. .
Instead, Boston exceeded expectations and seemingly gave Cora a reason to keep going. The club entered Wednesday with a 54-46 record, which puts it just one game back in the American League Wild Card race.
Cora agreeing to a contract extension would also indicate that he and first-year director of baseball Craig Breslow are on the same page. This is notable with the July 30 trade deadline approaching, as Cora openly expressed his desire for the front office to invest in the current lineup.
The Red Sox hired Cora as their manager before the 2018 season after firing John Farrell. The 48-year-old led Boston to the World Series title in his first season and has a 494-416 record in five and a half seasons as manager.
