3 Managerial Targets Red Sox Must Call After Moving on From Alex Cora

The Red Sox are officially in the market for a new manager after parting ways with World Series champion and sign-stealing technology mastermind Alex Cora today.

This will be the organization's second managerial search in three years, as Cora only lasted two full seasons at the helm after being hired in 2018. With pitchers and catchers reporting only a few weeks from now for Spring Training, who could the Red Sox bring in to lead the club in 2020? Let's identify three names they need to check in with.

1. Dustin Pedroia

Dustin Pedroia won two World Series rings with the Red Sox as a second baseman and was an AL MVP. / Chris Christo, Boston Herald

As a fan favorite in Boston for over a decade, hiring a guy like Dustin Pedroia would be a feel-good move to soothe an ailing fan base in the wake of a damaging scandal. Pedroia, who is notably still under contract as a player, is less and less likely to return to the field due to a knee injury. While he boasts no coaching or managerial experience, his esteem and experience as a player in the organization and the Boston community are a wild card no other candidate could match.

2. Dusty Baker

Dusty Baker was most recently the manager of the Washington Nationals in 2017 / Bob Levey, Getty Images

At the age of 70, Dusty Baker is the most experienced and accomplished manager you'll find on the market. He most recently managed the Washington Nationals to back-to-back seasons of 95-plus wins before being fired in 2017. However, his age might remove him from consideration if new front office boss Chaim Bloom errs on the side of youth. If hired, Baker would become the first African American manager in the history of the Red Sox, an inspiring milestone that could help turn the tide of all the bad press flying around the organization of late.

3. Jason Varitek

Jason Varitek currently serves as a special assistant in the organization. / Rob Carr, Getty Images

The current favorite to land the Red Sox managerial job would have to be Jason Varitek. Varitek already has a degree of front office experience within the organization as a special assistant. As a player, Varitek won two World Series rings in Boston and was a key member on the 2004 "bunch of idiots" that famously broke the Curse of the Bambino. An All-Star catcher and only the fourth captain in the history of the organization, Varitek is highly respected by the fan base and the baseball community at large. His hiring would be the most obvious option for Boston as they look to fill this suddenly vacant post. Oh, and he punched A-Rod. Around Boston, that's a major bonus.