Alex Cora Responds To Complimentary Remark From Red Sox President

BOSTON -- Red Sox manager Alex Cora committed to the organization by signing a three-year extension midway through the 2024 season, which prompted team president Sam Kennedy to expand on the importance of keeping their skipper at the helm.

Kennedy, who spoke with the media after the extension became official, referred to Cora as Boston's "face of the franchise" -- a title typically given to star players.

"I'm just part of the organization," Cora said before Friday night's matchup against the Yankees at Fenway Park. "Obviously, there's something that comes with this job, with this platform, right? ... I see it more as a spokesman than a face of the franchise. Like I said, my impact is before the game -- obviously during the game, making decisions -- but what we do is prepare guys to be great, to maximize these talents and perform. If Sam feels that way, good for him. I always tell him, 'Don't talk too much to the media.' But the fact that I'm going to be a part of this for the next three years, it means a lot. I know what it means to be a Red Sox. I know what it means to show up every day and work hard for this to happen, and I'm just happy to be here."

The impact of Cora's managerial guidance has been on full display since the Red Sox initially hired the ex-Boston infielder (2005-08) back in 2017. Moving on from the John Farrell chapter, Cora instantly got the best out of the 2018 roster, leading the franchise to its most winningest regular season (108-54) before picking teams apart -- the Yankees, Astros and Dodgers -- in the postseason, en route to Boston's ninth World Series title. Fast forward to 2024, and with a much younger and much less experienced -- and injury-riddled -- roster, Cora has kept the Red Sox on track to play meaningful games entering the second half of the season, fresh off back-to-back last-place finishes in the division.

It's fair to assume teams across the league would've targeted Cora had the 48-year-old held off and entered the offseason without a new contract. His ability to connect with young and veteran players in Boston's locker room allowed the Red Sox to make a slight postseason push in 2023, but helped the organization even more this season. Cora's ever-growing trust and confidence in the youngsters allowed Jarren Duran and Tanner Houck to emerge as first-time All-Stars while 23-year-old Ceddanne Rafaela leapt into the premature Rookie of the Year discussion. Thanks to Cora, the Red Sox have the leeway to enter the MLB trade deadline with a buyers approach, but if you ask the six-year skipper himself, Cora would call the team's success a token of his gratitude to Boston.

"I feel like the support system that we have, not only on the field, but off the field, made this happen," Cora said. "And like I said before, these people gave me a chance in 2017. After the scandal and the suspension, they gave me a chance to come to the game and that's something that was really important in our decision. You have to be thankful for the people that take care of you, especially when things are not going your way. And they did."