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5 potential replacements for Alex Cora in Boston

By Joshua Sadlock

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 25: Former player and coach Jason Varitek #33 of the Boston Red Sox talks to assistant hitting coach Andy Barkett #58 during batting practice before MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on April 25, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jason Varitek;Andy Barkett
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 25: Former player and coach Jason Varitek #33 of the Boston Red Sox talks to assistant hitting coach Andy Barkett #58 during batting practice before MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on April 25, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jason Varitek;Andy Barkett /
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FT. MYERS, FL – MARCH 6: Manager Alex Cora and bench coach Ron Roenicke of the Boston Red Sox look on before a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 6, 2019 at JetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
FT. MYERS, FL – MARCH 6: Manager Alex Cora and bench coach Ron Roenicke of the Boston Red Sox look on before a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 6, 2019 at JetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /

2. Ron Roenicke

After firing A.J. Hinch, the Astros immediately named bench coach Joe Espada the interim manager. The 44-year-old Espada is seen as a rising star in the baseball industry and future manager, so it makes sense for the Astros to do everything in their power to keep him in their organization. If Houston pulls the rug out from under Espada by bringing in another manager, they run the risk of alienating him and losing him as soon as another franchise comes calling.

The Red Sox don’t have the same problem with an up-and-coming bench coach to keep happy, but they will likely give strong consideration to elevating current bench coach Ron Roenicke to the top spot. A bench coach is the manager’s right-hand man and is an important part in keeping things under control over the course of a long regular season. Roenicke is an experienced manager and baseball lifer who was Cora’s manager at Double-A all the way back in 1997.

Roenicke most recently managed in the big leagues with the Milwaukee Brewers from 2011 to 2015 and had success with a talented club. The Brewers went to the NLCS in 2011, but Roenicke was fired after an underwhelming start to the 2015 season. He had a sub-.500 record with Milwaukee.

As they wait for the dust to settle, the Red Sox may consider turning to Roenicke as a stopgap measure before hunting more attractive candidates when there is more certainty about the future of the franchise. The only thing that could effectively rule Roenicke out as a candidate is if it is revealed he played a role in helping the Red Sox implement sign stealing during the 2018 season.

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