RED SOX MAKE CORA THEIR 47TH MANAGER

For the majority of his four seasons as a utility infielder with the Red Sox, Alex Cora wore No. 23. Nearly a decade later, the most relevant number associated with him will be 47.

Cora was hired as the 47th manager in Red Sox history, the team announced Sunday. After one season as the Astros’ bench coach, he will take the reins of a Red Sox team that won 93 games and the division title in back-to-back seasons under deposed manager John Farrell.

Cora received a threeyear contract, with a club option for 2021.

“I am extremely honored and humbled to be named manager of the Boston Red Sox,” Cora said in a news release announcing his hiring. “Returning to the Red Sox and the city of Boston is a dream come true for me and my family, and I look forward to working toward the ultimate goal of winning another championship for this city and its great fans.”

Cora thanked the Astros “for giving me the chance to start my coaching career.”

Mets select Callaway.

The Mets have hired Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway as their new manager.

The hiring was first reported by the New York Post.

Callaway replaces Terry Collins, who stepped down as manager to take a position in the team’s front office, after the Mets fell to a 70-92 record this season.

Footnotes.

Joe Girardi said he loves managing the Yankees, but he is uncertain whether he will back in the job in 2018. “There’s no guarantees for me,” Girardi said after his team lost Game 7 of the ALCS 4-0 to the Astros on Saturday. … The Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas opened the Dodgers as minus-140 favorites to beat the Astros in the World Series. — The Associated Press