Red Sox Manager Alex Cora Had Funny Explanation Of John Henry Photo

Alex Cora kept everything close to the vest Thursday.

The Red Sox manager didn’t want to weigh in on the reported Alex Bregman signing before it became official, and that prompted Cora to come up with a funny explanation of the viral John Henry photo.

Linda Pizzuti, Henry’s wife, posted a picture of the Red Sox owner smoking a cigar Wednesday night. The timing of the post understandably led many to believe Henry lit up a celebratory smoke after the Red Sox agreed to terms with Bregman, one of the top free agents this offseason.

Cora, however, insisted the photo was a result of a controversial call during the Liverpool-Everton match Wednesday.

“Yeah, he was upset about the non-call on Mo Salah in minute 95 yesterday,” Cora told reporters in Fort Myers, Fla., as seen on NESN.

“It should have been a penalty,” Cora continued. “Obviously, Everton took the ball the other way, they score, and they draw that game. So that’s the reason he was smoking that cigar.”

So it wasn’t in celebration of the reported Red Sox move?

“No, no, he was more upset about the match that happened before,” said Cora, a slight smirk coming through.

But if the photo of Henry was, in fact, a result of the reported Bregman deal, the longtime owner certainly wasn’t alone. Countless Red Sox fans were jumping for joy after the signing while players expressed similar enthusiasm.

Cora, though, apparently will wait to weigh in.