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Red Sox name Alex Cora as new manager

Alex Cora was on the staff of the Houston team that beat the Red Sox in the Division Series.David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Alex Cora played in the College World Series three times while at the University of Miami. As a major leaguer, he won a World Series with the Red Sox.

Last spring, Cora helped build a team that landed Puerto Rico in the championship game of the World Baseball Classic.

As bench coach, Cora then helped the Houston Astros to a 101-win season and a berth in the World Series.

Now Cora will be the focal point of another championship pursuit, having returned to the Red Sox as manager.

The announcement came Sunday that Cora agreed to a three-year contract with a team option for 2021.

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“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 towards the ultimate goal of winning another championship for this city and its great fans,” Cora said in a statement released by the Sox.

Cora also thanked Red Sox ownership for what he described as a “tremendous opportunity.”

Principal owner John Henry described Cora as a “natural leader to guide our clubhouse.”

The Sox won back-to-back American League East championships under John Farrell but fired him on Oct. 11, feeling too many of their young players had regressed and the Sox needed more guidance from the manager’s office.

With the effusive Cora, it will be a different approach.

“He is extremely smart with a dedication to what it takes to be successful in today’s game on the field,” said Henry, who also owns the Globe.

“His baseball acumen and his ability to think strategically are uncommon for someone his age. We could not have found a better match for our players, our front office, and for where we intend to go over the coming years as an organization.”

Cora, 42, will not be in Boston for a news conference until after the World Series, which starts Tuesday and could run through Nov. 1.

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The Sox worked with Major League Baseball and the Astros to determine when to make the announcement and all sides agreed to withhold further comment until after the Series.

“It has been a very special season and an incredible organization to be a part of and I am looking forward to the World Series and winning with this group,” Cora said.

Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski moved quickly after firing Farrell, selecting Cora from a field of candidates that included former Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus and Arizona Diamondbacks bench coach Ron Gardenhire.

“We were very impressed when we interviewed Alex,” Dombrowski said. “He came to us as a highly regarded candidate, and from speaking with him throughout this process, we found him to be very knowledgeable, driven, and deserving of this opportunity.

“He is a highly respected and hard-working individual who has experience playing in Boston. Alex also has a full appreciation for the use of analytical information in today’s game and his ability to communicate and relate to both young players and veterans is a plus. Finally, the fact that he is bilingual is very significant for our club.”

Alex Cora with the Red Sox in 2008.Danny Moloshok/Reuters/File

Cora also interviewed with the Mets and had interest from the Tigers and Phillies.

Cora, a native of Puerto Rico, is the first Hispanic manager in Red Sox history. At 42, he will be the youngest Sox manager since Kevin Kennedy, who was 40 at the start of the 1995 season.

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Cora inherits a team that was 93-69 for two consecutive seasons under Farrell but did not advance beyond the Division Series. There will be pressure to take what is a talented roster back to the World Series for the first time since 2013.

Cora understands the challenge and the environment in Boston. He is the first former Red Sox player to become manager since Butch Hobson in 1992.

Cora was a middle infielder with the Sox from 2005-08, appearing in 301 games under Terry Francona. The only player still remaining from those teams is second baseman Dustin Pedroia.

“As someone who has played in Boston and knows what it takes to win here, Alex is uniquely positioned to instill a championship culture,” team chairman Tom Werner said. “Baseball is in his blood and we could not be more pleased to have found someone so accomplished to lead our team.”

The 47th manager in Red Sox history, Cora is the first without previous major league managerial experience since Hobson. But he drew praise from Astros manager A.J. Hinch and the Houston players for his work as bench coach.

“He’s all about baseball. He’s all about the competition and small advantages within the game, one of the brightest baseball intellects that I’ve been around,” Hinch said last week.

“He challenges people. He challenges me. He’s someone who’s all about winning. And I think to watch our players respond to him, he’s got a lot of respect in that clubhouse because of the work he puts in and the attention to detail that he brings.”

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The Red Sox, while talented, have issues Cora will need to solve.

Several of the young players on the roster, particularly shortstop Xander Bogaerts, regressed this past season. David Price had a 3.38 earned run average but feuded with some media members to a point that it became a subplot to the season and drew criticism from fans.

Hanley Ramirez, a talented hitter, was so inconsistent with his effort that Farrell would point out those times Ramirez was “engaged” in the game.

Pedroia ended the season with an injured left knee that could require surgery.

The Red Sox are also likely to see changes over the coming months as Dombrowski adds power to the offense via free agency or trade.

Cora’s immediate responsibility will be to develop a working relationship with Dombrowski and construct a coaching staff.

Cora played in the majors from 1998-2011. He was a starter with the Dodgers from 2000-04, first at shortstop and then at second base.

Cora signed with the Indians as a free agent before the 2005 season then was traded to the Red Sox on July 7 in exchange for infielder Ramon Vazquez.

Cora’s only career home run at Fenway Park was a memorable one. The two-run shot to right field came off Roy Halladay in the seventh inning on Aug. 31, 2006, and gave the Sox a 6-4 victory against Toronto.

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Alex Cora scored the winning run for the Red Sox in a 2008 game.barry chin/globe staff file

After his playing career ended, Cora sat out a season then joined ESPN and ESPN Deportes as an analyst. He interviewed for managerial openings with Texas and Arizona before joining the Astros’ staff last Nov. 15.

Cora has been an active member of the Puerto Rican Winter League as a player, manager, and executive.

Cora was general manager for Criollos de Caguas the last five years and managed the team from 2014-16. Last winter, Caguas earned Puerto Rico its first Caribbean Series title since 2000.

“It’s a great opportunity for Alex. As a former Red Sox player, I think it’s a great fit,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts “He’s very connected to the players and the game and all the things that go with being a manager. It’s going to be a new challenge for him, but I think he’s as prepared as anyone.”

After a stellar college career with Miami, Cora was a third-round pick of the Dodgers.

His older brother, Joey, was in the majors from 1987-98 and is now third base coach of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Cora resides in Caguas and has four children: Camila, Jeriel, Xander, and Isander.


Peter Abraham can be reached at peter.abraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @peteabe.