With the Red Sox missing the postseason in 2019, Alex Cora had the chance to join ESPN's playoff coverage but he decided to turn them down to spend more time with his family.
It's hard to blame Cora for this one. Before he joined the Red Sox, he was the bench coach for World Series champion Houston Astros and then won a World Series of his own in Boston the following season. There aren't many days off when you win back-to-back championships, and this season couldn't have been easy to get through either.
As the Red Sox wrap up their season Sunday, the team's makeover in the front office is still underway. Cora's job is deservedly safe according to Sam Kennedy, so he can take the time in the offseason to prepare for what could be a very different roster when the team reconvenes for Spring Training.
J.D. Martinez, Rick Porcello, Brock Holt and Mitch Moreland are the team's primary free agents this winter and with the club's plans to cut costs and avoid further luxury tax payments, there's a decent chance none of those players return. At the very least, Boston is reportedly planning to offer Rafael Devers a contract extension in the offseason.
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