"I made a big mistake in ‘17. I’m not proud of it" - Red Sox manager Alex Cora admits his role in Astros cheating scandal

Alex Cora, the manager of the Boston Red Sox, has addressed past miscalculations. Although his team was underwhelmed by almost every metric in 2022, the issue he was addressing was from years ago.

Cora was quoted in a recent book called “Winning Fixes Everything: How Baseball’s Brightest Minds Created Sports’ Biggest Mess" by Evan Drellich. Drellich is a senior baseball writer for The Athletic.

"[Boston Globe] Upcoming book contains new details about Alex Cora’s involvement in Astros’ sign-stealing scandal of 2017 [by JohnRamos85]" - @ Yankees News

The book was released in early February and features first-hand quotes and conversations from some of the top voices, players and minds in the modern game of baseball.

Before he was hired as the manager of the Boston Red Sox in 2018, Cora was the hitting coach for the Houston Astros. He was involved with the Astros when they became embroiled in one of the largest scandals in recent sports memory.

The 2017 sign-stealing scandal was the result of revelations that the Houston Astros used sign-stealing technology to give them an unfair edge throughout the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

As a result, the Houston Astros fired both their general manager and manager. Additionally, the team was fined $5 million by the MLB and forced to concede some key picks in the upcoming drafts.

Alex Cora served as the Astros' bench coach between 2016 and 2018. In early 2020, an investigation by the MLB found that Alex Cora "was the only non-player involved in the subterfuge." He parted ways with his new team, the Boston Red Sox, the following day.

"Breaking: Red Sox and manager Alex Cora have agreed to part ways after findings and Commisioner's ruling in sign-stealing investigation" - @ Bleacher Report

Although suspended for one season, Cora was rehired by the Sox at the end of 2020 under a 2-year contract with club options for an additional two years. Alex Cora has repeatedly admitted his guilt but has decided to move on and focus on the task at hand with his new team.

Alex Cora has his work cut out for him in 2023

Regardless of public opinion on Cora's role in the scandal, he has many more pressing issues to worry about. His team finished last in the AL East last year with a record of 84-78. In a division that includes teams like the New York Yankees, another season like that from Cora may lead to him being in a similar situation at the beginning of 2020.