Red Sox Clubhouse Drama Continues Under Cora's Watch

With Rafael Devers gone, Boston's manager faces tough questions about his ability to manage personalities.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 9:34pm

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The Boston Red Sox have started the 2026 season with a 1-5 record, and now manager Alex Cora is dealing with another clubhouse controversy after scratching starting catcher Carlos Narvaez from the lineup for disciplinary reasons. This is just the latest in a string of incidents involving Cora clashing with players during his tenure, raising questions about his ability to manage disparate personalities and keep a lid on drama.

Why it matters

Cora's history of issues with players like Alex Verdugo, Triston Casas, Kenley Jansen, and Rafael Devers has created a pattern of clubhouse dysfunction that has persisted despite roster changes. With Devers now gone, Cora no longer has a scapegoat and must take responsibility for the team's culture problems.

The details

Cora was vague about the reasons for Narvaez's scratch, saying 'Let's keep it between me and Carlos. And he understands. This is something that happens on every club.' However, this type of incident has become all too common for Cora's Red Sox teams, with previous conflicts involving Verdugo, Casas, Jansen, and Devers. The manager has struggled to maintain harmony in the clubhouse, and his own past transgressions, including his role in the Astros' sign-stealing scandal, have further eroded trust.

  • The Red Sox started the 2026 season with a 1-5 record.
  • The Narvaez incident occurred on April 1, 2026.

The players

Alex Cora

The manager of the Boston Red Sox, who has a history of clashing with players and maintaining clubhouse dysfunction during his tenure.

Carlos Narvaez

The starting catcher for the Boston Red Sox who was scratched from the lineup on April 1, 2026 for disciplinary reasons.

Rafael Devers

A former star player for the Boston Red Sox who was traded to the San Francisco Giants last spring after a public dispute with Cora.

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What they’re saying

“Let's keep it between me and Carlos. And he understands. This is something that happens on every club. It just happens to be early in the season and I think it's the right thing to do.”

— Alex Cora, Manager, Boston Red Sox

What’s next

The Red Sox will need to address the ongoing clubhouse issues and determine if Cora is the right manager to lead the team moving forward.

The takeaway

Cora's inability to manage personalities and maintain a harmonious clubhouse environment has become a recurring problem for the Red Sox, and with the team's star player Rafael Devers now gone, the manager can no longer hide behind the actions of his players. The organization must decide if Cora is the right leader to guide the team through its current struggles.