Ex-Red Sox Skipper Alex Cora Landing New Job Considered 'All But a Done Deal' originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox have played very well under interim skipper Chad Tracy, though that doesn't necessarily mean they'll hire him as their next head coach.
The Red Sox ultimately have to decide whether to give Tracy more chances or go with a veteran-led head coach.
As of now, the Red Sox have to love what Tracy has done, as everything has gone according to plan since moving on from Alex Cora.
Cora, speaking of which, finds himself in a position of leverage.
He’s considered one of the more sought-after managers in Major League Baseball this offseason, with Bob Nightengale on Sunday suggesting that he will be the next manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, unless they win a World Series and decide to keep Don Mattingly around.
One writer decided to take it a step further with Cora, stating that him going to Philadelphia seems like “all but a done deal.”
“As with Beltrán, this feels like all but a done deal. Cora has been linked to the Phillies for months and even reportedly passed on an offer to take over midseason. His familiarity with lead baseball executive Dave Dombrowski only makes this fit more obvious.
“Dombrowski’s presence means that Cora should have remarkably strong job security, but the Phillies’ championship window is tightening. Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Trea Turner aren’t getting any younger, nor is veteran All-Star starter Zack Wheeler. And that’s not even considering that the Dodgers, Brewers, and Braves remain atop the National League,” Jake Elman wrote.
Reports indicated that after the Red Sox moved on from Cora, he was offered the job in Philadelphia.
The former Red Sox skipper ultimately decided to stay away from baseball for the remainder of the campaign, with the expectation of him returning this offseason.
As of now, he's the favorite to get the job in Philadelphia if it moves on from Mattingly, though it still remains to be seen how the Phillies will play come October.