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Alex Cora: Red Sox are contenders, not rebuilding

Sep 20, 2019; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora (20)  at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Alex Cora is back as manager of the Boston Red Sox and attempting to restore championship expectations before the 2021 season begins.

“We’re not rebuilding, if a player here isn’t thinking about winning a championship he better leave,” Cora said Thursday as the Red Sox opened spring training in Florida. “We can contend in 2021. We will contend in 2021.”

Projections for the Red Sox indicate otherwise.

FanGraphs released wins projections and division title chances this week, and the Red Sox were projected to win 77 games with a 14-1 chance to win the American League East.

Related: MLB power rankings 2022 – Houston Astros, New York Yankees battle for No.1 spot

Since Cora last filled out the lineup card, Boston traded Mookie Betts and Andrew Benintendi, and left-handed ace Chris Sale underwent Tommy John surgery.

Cora was suspended last season for his role in the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing controversy as a coach in 2017 and the Red Sox fired him.

He had an epic debut as manager. Cora guided the Red Sox to an 108-win season and World Series win in 2018. The Red Sox won 84 games in 2019.

Cora’s bench coach, Ron Roenicke, served as interim manager in 2020. The team finished last in the division with a 24-36 record.

After the team conducted physicals on Wednesday, the Red Sox are on the field for the first time Thursday. Cora said he’s already impressed.

“It was fun just to be around the guys. It was a great day,” he said.

–Field Level Media

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