Alex Cora Issues Strong Message To Red Sox As Spring Training Gets Underway

The Red Sox manager is focused on finishing the race and winning a World Series this season.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora has issued a strong message to his team as Spring Training gets underway. Cora compared the baseball season to a marathon, telling his players they need to 'finish the race' and win a World Series after the team's last championship in 2018. Despite an unbalanced roster, Cora is confident he can put the pieces together and lead the Red Sox to success this year.

Why it matters

The Red Sox are a team on the rise with a strong young core, but they haven't won a World Series in nearly a decade. Cora's message to his players sets the tone for the season and shows his determination to get the team back to the top of the league.

The details

Cora will be tasked with finding the right 26-man roster for the Red Sox, who have areas of strength like their starting rotation and outfield, but also weaknesses in the infield and bullpen. The manager is known for his ability to get the most out of his players and construct winning teams, and he's hoping his 'finish the race' message will motivate the Red Sox to achieve their goal of winning a championship.

  • The Red Sox last won the World Series in 2018.

The players

Alex Cora

The manager of the Boston Red Sox, known for his ability to get the most out of his players and construct winning teams.

Trevor Story

A key player for the Red Sox who made the decision to join the team 'five minutes' after their 2025 season ended.

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What they’re saying

“The baseball season is very similar to a marathon. We haven't finished the race in a while as an organization … We have to finish the race, but it starts now.”

— Alex Cora, Manager (yahoo.com)

What’s next

The Red Sox will need to finalize their 26-man roster during Spring Training, and Cora will be tasked with putting all the pieces together to build a championship-caliber team.

The takeaway

Cora's message to his team sets the tone for the Red Sox's 2026 season, as the manager is determined to lead the team back to the World Series and end their championship drought. With a strong young core and Cora's proven ability to get the most out of his players, the Red Sox have a chance to surprise a lot of people this year.