Red Sox pick up Cora’s options for 2023-24
The Boston Red Sox have picked up manager Alex Cora’s option for two more seasons, rewarding him for taking the team to the AL Championship Series in his first year back after serving his one-year sign-stealing suspension.
Cora, 46, now is under contract through 2024.
“Alex’s leadership of our staff and our players was critical to all that we accomplished in 2021,” Red Sox executive Chaim Bloom said. “Along with the entire Red Sox front office, I am excited for many years of continued partnership as we work together to bring another World Series trophy to Fenway Park.”
A former infielder who was a member of Boston’s 2007 World Series championship team, Cora is 284-202 in three seasons as manager.
In his first year, 2018, he led the club to a franchise-record 108 victories and a World Series title. Cora was let go a year later when he was identified as the ringleader in the Houston Astros cheating scandal.
After Ron Roenicke managed the Red Sox during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Cora was brought back to the Boston dugout. The Red Sox went 92-70, then beat the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays in the playoffs before losing to the Astros in the ALCS.
“I am beyond grateful for this opportunity to manage the Red Sox,” Cora said. “We experienced so many special moments as a team and as a city in 2021, but we still have unfinished business to take care of.”
Angels add reliever: Lefthander Aaron Loup agreed to a two-year, $17 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels.
Loup, 33, posted a 0.95 ERA in 65 games spanning 562⁄3 innings for the New York Mets this year. For his 10-year career, he is 21-22 with a 3.05 ERA in 471 outings, including two starts.
Loup’s performance in 2021 saw him limit hitters to a .192 batting average, the lowest for a season in his career.
Trades: The Angels acquired utility player Tyler Wade, 26, from the Yankees for a player to be named or cash. He hit .268 with 17 stolen bases in 103 games . ... The Chicago Cubs acquired outfielder Harold Ramirez, 27, from the Cleveland Guardians for cash. He hit .268 with seven home runs and 41 RBIs in 99 games last season . ... The Milwaukee Brewers acquired right-hander J.C. Mejia, 25, from Cleveland for a player to be named or cash. He was 1-7 with an 8.25 ERA in 17 games in 2021, including 11 starts, striking out 47 and walking 24 in 521⁄3 innings . ... The Texas Rangers acquired outfielders Billy McKinney and Zach Reks from the Los Angeles Dodgers for cash considerations. McKinney hit .192 with nine home runs in 116 games for the Brewers, Mets and Dodgers this year; Reks made his majorleague debut in 2021 and was 0-for-10.
Briefly: Cleveland signed catcher Sandy Leon to a minorleague contract. Leon, 32, hit .183 with four home runs for the Miami Marlins this past season. ... Right-hander Yoan Lopez was designated for assignment by the Atlanta Braves. Lopez, 25, had 4.25 ERA in 113 games with Arizona Diamondbacks in 2018-21 before being traded to Atlanta in May. After that deal, he appeared in 32 games for Triple-A Gwinnett.