Matt Johnson
Days after being fired by the Boston Red Sox, Alex Cora was reportedly offered the chance to take over as the Philadelphia Phillies. It appears he’ll have even more job offers this winter.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported over the weekend that Cora is “expected to be wooed” by both the Houston Astros and New York Mets, in addition to the Phillies.
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Cora turned down Philadelphia’s opportunity in April, opting to take the rest of the 2026 MLB season off to spend time with his family. He is, however, widely expected to return to the dugout in 2027.
While the Astros (Joe Espada) and Mets (Carlos Mendoza) have stuck by their managers publicly, changes are expected. Espada is in danger of being fired during the season and Mendoza’s future in New York is tenuous.
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Cora, age 50, is a three-time World Series champion who has played a role in winning titles both as a manager and a bench coach. He is well-liked by players and would seemingly be an ideal fit for an older team with veteran players pushing to win a championship.
Why the Phillies are Favored to Hire Alex Cora
While Mets owner Steve Cohen could offer Cora a contract that makes him one of the highest-paid managers in MLB next season, Philadelphia could be more well-positioned to land him.
Given Cora’s experience in Boston, where chief baseball officer Craig Breslow had massive influence on the organization, the relationship with his next boss will be crucial. In Philadelphia, he’d have the opportunity to reunite with Dave Dombrowski.
It is worth noting that Cora did briefly work in the Astros organization, but that was only for the 2017 season as a bench coach. The majority of his experience came in Boston, with many of those years coming when Dombrowski worked in the Red Sox front office.
As the Phillies manager, Cora would have the backing of a president of baseball operations whom he trusts and ownership that is willing to spend on a winner. Ultimately, it would be a surprise if Cora isn’t hired by Philadelphia this winter.
