Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora is walking a tightrope this season. He’s trying to win games while bringing a new wave of young talent. In sports, nothing matters more to a coach than winning. Managers don’t control the front office decisions or player contracts, but they know wins and losses define their success.
At the same time, the game is always looking ahead. Every season, prospects climb closer to the big leagues, and veterans inch closer to the end of their careers. It’s up to the manager to keep the cycle going.
Red Sox Alex Cora Attempts to Maintain Managerial Equilibrium
After a solid start to the 2025 season, the Red Sox sank to fourth place in the American League East Division. With a record of 27-31, the club sits 9.5 games behind the New York Yankees. It’s not a full-blown collapse, but the signs of trouble are hard to miss with such a young roster.
Cora has had to deal with both injuries and drama. Losing Triston Casas hurt the team’s momentum. Then came the public tension with Rafael Devers, who was asked to shift from designated hitter to first base after being asked to move there from third. While Devers has been steadfast in his decision to stay put, Boston may want to thank him as he’s been one of the only consistent players for the Red Sox during May.
Rafael Devers has been a MACHINE in the month of May.
.366/.473/.645
7HR
29RBIDevers is doing his part. The rest of the team has to do theirs. pic.twitter.com/PljxoiZyjo
— SleeperRedSox (@SleeperRedSox) May 30, 2025
Now, the team faces another big decision: whether to call up more prospects and how to mix them into the lineup.
The Red Sox have a deep farm system, and several young players are nearly ready. Cora spoke with MassLive’s Sean McAdam about the balancing act of winning and developing talent.
“There’s a fine line with that,” said Cora. “Obviously, we believe we can do both. But the one thing that’s challenging, just being honest, is that transition from player development to here. Up here, every pitch matters, every at-bat matters, and every error has its consequences. That’s something (in the minors); it’s not like that. It’s not the case.”
According to MLB.com, Boston has three prospects at Triple-A who could debut this season. That doesn’t count top shortstop Marcelo Mayer, who was called up last week. Outfielder Roman Anthony could be next, likely arriving in Boston before August.
That would give Cora at least six players under the age of 30 seeing regular action. Still, going all-in on a youth movement isn’t realistic in a high-pressure market like Boston. The media scrutiny would be intense, and fans expect results now, not later.
But Boston hopes the same young players getting called up today will carry the franchise into the late 2020s and beyond.