Astros coach Cora to manage Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox hired Houston Astros bench coach Alex Cora to be their new manager on Sunday, turning to a player from their 2007 World Series championship roster to help the team out of its current playoff slump.

The Red Sox announced the hire on Sunday, a day after Cora’s Astros eliminated the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series. With two days off before Houston opens the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston had a chance to hire Cora without running afoul of baseball’s ban on major moves during the Series.

Cora replaces John Farrell, who led the Red Sox to the 2013 title and in the last two years claimed the first back-toback AL East championships in franchise history.

But Boston also finished last twice in Farrell’s tenure, and the ballclub has won just one playoff game since winning it all in his first season.

A native of Puerto Rico, Cora is the first Hispanic manager for a franchise that was the last in the major leagues to field a black player. The Red Sox faced renewed racial scrutiny this season after Orioles outfielder Adam Jones reported being subjected to racial slurs at Fenway Park.

Mets tab Callaway: The New York Mets hired Cleveland pitching coach Mickey Callaway as their manager, a source said.

Callaway receives a three-year contract, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made yet. A news conference to introduce Callaway is expected within the next few days.

With his contract set to expire, Terry Collins stepped down at the end of the season after seven years as Mets manager and accepted a position as a special assistant to general manager Sandy Alderson.

The 42-year-old Callaway has been Cleveland’s pitching coach for the past five seasons.