Red Sox Notebook: Alex Cora won't discuss new contract during the season, and Sam Kennedy says team has 'underperformed'
Red Sox Notebook: Alex Cora won't discuss new contract during the season, and Sam Kennedy says team has 'underperformed'
Red Sox manager Alex Cora entered this season as a lame duck manager with no job security beyond 2024. His contract will end at the conclusion of the regular season, unless he agrees to a new deal.
Based on Cora’s words earlier this week, he doesn’t plan to discuss an extension or his future with the Red Sox until after the season is over.
“We’re not talking about contracts during the season,” he said ahead of the Red Sox’ game against the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park on Friday night. “Out of respect for the organization, the players, and the season, we’re not going to talk about contracts. We’ll play it out, and whatever is decided is decided.”
Cora told reports that he feels “really good” where he is in his life, including with the organization.
“My intent is to manage today and keep helping this team to be better,” Cora said. “I think we have something good going on as far as developing players, and it’s a challenge right now, of course, with all the injuries, but I feel really good where I’m at. I feel really good with where I’m at in my personal life, which is the most important thing. I love the Red Sox, but the Cora-Feliciano team is my number one team, and we’re good where we’re at.”
Cora’s comments reportedly came organically to the media following Sam Kennedy’s appearance on WEEI on Thursday, where he said the team has “underperformed” in some areas this season.
“It’s sort of been a tale of two seasons—really positive in many ways and then really negative in others. So, I don’t think so,” Kennedy said. “I think it’s a talented group—incredibly athletic, young. We’ve seen sort of the glimpse of how we’re going to get back to the postseason with athletic play, young, homegrown guys that have come through our system, and performances from a pitching staff that has just been sort of otherworldly.
“On the other hand, our bats have gone quiet at the wrong time, our defense has not been where it needs to be, and of course, we’ve suffered the loss of guys like Trevor (Story), Triston (Casas), and Tyler O’Neill now going down. So, that’s not an excuse. It’s on us to stay healthy. That’s part of competing. We’re right at the .500 mark here, 56 games or whatever it is into the season. Got 100-plus games to go. So, we need to get hot.
“We need to continue to pitch the way we have and start getting guys on base and scoring more runs. But I don’t think we’ve overperformed. I think, if anything, we’ve underperformed just given the talent and the competitiveness in that clubhouse.”
Kennedy’s comments aren’t totally wrong, but based off everything he has said since last season, the CEO seems disconnected from the fans perspective, and more importantly, this season continues to be a byproduct of not spending and addressing on certain areas heading into 2024.
Despite all the injuries, Cora has helped keep his team afloat, sitting at 30-29 and 2.5 games outside the final Wild Card spot.
