Is Cora the next Counsell?

RED SOX manager Alex Cora is expected to hit the free-agent market after the year. He and GM Craig Breslow seem to agree they’d like to get to know each other over a season before seriously discussing a new contract for Cora, who’s in the last year of a deal that pays him $3 million annually.

Managers are congratulating Craig Counsell for his record $40M, five-year deal, but some believe it’s a “one-off.” The charismatic, admired Cora — who won the 2018 World Series but has suffered two straight lastplace finishes — could be a test case.

New Red Sox pitching coach Andrew Bailey is seen as a potential replacement if Cora leaves . ...

Star free agent Jordan Montgomery still seeks a long deal while reigning NL Cy Young winner Blake Snell is fine doing a short-term deal with optouts . ...

The Blue Jays came late with an offer for third baseman Matt Chapman, believed to be for two years, before he went to the Giants, which were his first choice . ...

Some great spring stories are happening.

Paul Skenes, the No. 1 draft pick in 2023, is wowing in Pirates camp, hitting 102 mph on the gun. He won’t start the season in the majors, but folks expect him to get there quick after starting either in Double-A or Triple-A.

Jackson Holliday, the No. 1 pick in 2022, hit two balls of the wall in a recent three-hit game and was up to .333. He’s not guaranteed to make a stacked club — the Orioles are killing it in spring — but should be up before long with superstar in waiting Gunnar Henderson at short. Holliday will likely play second.

Second baseman Edouard Julien gives the Twins their best bat-to-ball guy since Luiz Arraez and looks like the latest Twin who’s a threat to win a batting title.

A.J. Puk has added a twoseam fastball and a splitter, and it would be a surprise if the former reliever didn’t win a rotation spot in Miami . ...

Garrett Crochet’s move to the rotation might be the White Sox’s best decision. He’s averaging 98.3 mph on his fastball, tops for any left-hander in spring, and is in the zone with the pitch 68.3 percent of the time, up from 55.1 last season.