AP Source: Alex Cora returns as Red Sox manager after a year of absence

BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox are re-appointing Alex Cora as manager, a man knowledgeable about the decision told the Associated Press that his role in the Houston Astros cheating scandal had restored him from digging in less than a year.

The man spoke to the AP on Friday about the anonymous situation as the parties were still finalizing the terms of the deal and were not ready to announce the action.

The decision comes a week after Cora completed a one-season suspension predicted by commissioner Rob Manfred for cheating on Cora, when the bench coach of the Houston Astros participated in the 2017 World Series Championship. Cora joined the Red Sox in November 2017 and led Boston to the 2018 World Series title following franchise-record 108 regular-season victories.

Boston finished third in 2019, and Cora was identified as the ring leader in the Astros sign-stealing scheme on January 13, with his penalty suspended until Manfred’s verdict on Boston on token theft charges. Manfred has been mentioned 11 times in his decision against Cora Astros, an infielder against Boston’s 2007 champions.

Carlos Beltron, the newly appointed New York Mets manager from the Astros investigation, also paid for his job. Beltron is a player in the 2017 Astros.

In his April 22 report, Manfred abused Cora along with the Red Sox and suspended Cora through the World Series for his behavior with Houston. Ron Ronicke, who was promoted to replace Cora from the bench coach, left after the Red Sox finished last in the AL East.

“Alex should be managing. He did a very good job here, ”Ronikke, who is the bench coach for the Cora staff, told reporters after his dismissal. “I hope he does this again. He should be managing whether it’s here or somewhere else.”

The Red Sox were not allowed to speak to Kota Intail after the World Series ended on October 27. Lack of activity is a sign that they are focusing on Cora.

The team he returned to is very similar to the team he last managed.

Chime Bloom is now heading towards baseball, taking the last off-season to break up with Cora. Bloom’s other big move last off-season was to trade the 2018 AL MVP Mookie Betts with David Price and the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of an effort to bring the Red Sox into the collective bargaining tax for baseball.

With Betts and Price gone, Chris Sale Tommy John recovering from surgery and Eduardo Rodriguez with a COVID-19 related heart problem, the Red Sox went 24-36 and finished last in the AL East.

But Cora also has hopes of improvement in the 2021 season – if one.

The sale is expected to return in the first half. All-star Jedi Martinez, who spent his first two years in Boston before struggling in the pandemic-curtailed 2020 season, has also been on contract for at least a year.

There was plenty of salary facility in the Red Sox in the deal that sent bets and prices to Los Angeles.