In the midst of the Boston Red Sox’s 12-9 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night, manager Alex Cora reached a significant milestone.
Since taking the helm of the Red Sox in 2018, Cora has amassed 490 wins. Although he was suspended for the 2020 season due to his involvement in the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal, he returned in 2021 and has continued to lead the team effectively.
Cora, now 48, holds a career record of 490-410.
According to team official JP Long, Cora is now fourth on the Red Sox’s all-time wins list for managers. He surpassed Bill Carrigan, who managed the team from 1913 to 1916 and again from 1927 to 1929.
The franchise’s all-time record for managerial wins is held by Joe Cronin with 1,071, followed by Terry Francona with 744.
When Cora secures his 500th win later this season, he will become the 142nd major league manager to reach this milestone. Currently, 12 active managers have already surpassed this mark.
Cora is 70 wins away from tying Mike Higgins for the third-most wins in Red Sox history. Despite Boston’s recent hot streak, winning 70 out of their final 72 games this season is a steep expectation.
This was Alex Cora’s 490th win as Red Sox manager, passing Bill Carrigan for 4th most in franchise history:
Joe Cronin 1,071
Terry Francona 744
Mike Higgins 560
ALEX CORA 490
Bill Carrigan 489— J.P. Long (@SoxNotes) July 10, 2024
While Cora is likely to surpass Higgins in 2025, his contract does not extend beyond this season. It is uncommon for managers to work without a contract extension, fueling speculation about Cora’s future with the Red Sox.
Furthermore, Cora has expressed his desire not to be managing ten years from now, making it unlikely he will match Francona’s record.
Cora led the Red Sox to a division title and a World Series championship in 2018. Aside from an ALCS appearance in 2021, the team has struggled to replicate that success.
The Red Sox finished last in the AL East in both 2022 and 2023, putting Cora’s job in jeopardy as the 2024 season began. However, with a league-best record since mid-June, Boston stands at 50-40 at the season’s midpoint.
If Cora can guide the Red Sox back to the postseason, he might secure a contract extension and continue to climb the all-time wins leaderboard, as he has been doing for the past six years.
