Cora says opportunity to manage Red Sox is a return home

BOSTON » New Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora didn’t expect his first chance to manage in the major leagues to come this soon, but he says he’s ready to take on the challenge of leading one of its most storied franchises.

Cora was introduced Monday at Fenway Park as the 47th manager of the Red Sox. A native of Puerto Rico, the 42-year-old also becomes the first minority manager of a club that was the last in the major leagues to field a black player.

Cora says he understands the significance of his hiring, but says he believes he has been given his first managerial opportunity based solely on his capability.

A middle infielder on Boston’s 2007 World Series championship team, Cora says he sees the job as a return home. Cora played four seasons for the Red Sox, and this year was the bench coach for the World Series champion Houston Astros.

Bautista’s $17.5M option declined by Blue Jays

TORONTO » Jose Bautista’s $17.5 million option has been declined by the Toronto Blue Jays, who will pay a $500,000 buyout.

Bautista became a free agent Sunday after the team turned down its half of the mutual option on the 36-year-old right fielder.

Toronto general manager Ross Atkins had said Oct. 3, two days after the Blue Jays’ season ended, that the team intended to decline the option.

Yankees’ Cashman was concerned with Girardi’s ‘connectivity’

NEW YORK » Yankees general manager Brian Cashman decided it “was time for a new voice and a fresh voice” in New York’s clubhouse after concluding Joe Girardi was not the right manager for a team that has reoriented toward youth.

New York announced Oct. 26 that Girardi would not be offered a new contract, ending a 10-year run that ended when the Yankees lost Game 7 of the AL Championship Series to Houston, the eventual World Series champion.

“The issue and the concerns were,” Cashman said, “ability to fully engage, communicate, connect with the playing personnel. And in saying that there might be a tough hurdle for someone that’s been in that particular position as a manager for 10 years.”

The GM said he doesn’t have a timetable for a decision on a replacement and plans to interview candidates from both inside and outside the organization.

Cashman said he informed owner Hal Steinbrenner of his Girardi analysis Oct. 23, two days after New York’s season ended. Cashman met Girardi the next day.

Minnesota Twins hire Derek Shelton as bench coach

MINNEAPOLIS » The Minnesota Twins have hired Derek Shelton as their bench coach.

The Twins announced the move Monday. Shelton was the Toronto Blue Jays’ quality control coach this year.

The 47-year-old Shelton will be going into his 14th season as a coach in some capacity at the major league level. He previously served as Tampa Bay’s hitting coach from 2010-16 and Cleveland’s hitting coach from 2005-09.

Shelton began his coaching career in the Yankees’ organization in 1997 and held various coaching positions in their minor league system. Shelton played two minor league seasons in the Yankees’ organization from 1992-93 before elbow surgery ended his career.