Cora Gets Candid: Red Sox Manager Lays Out Biggest Offseason Goals After Breslow’s Overhaul.vc

(BOSTON) — Boston Red Sox Manager Alex Cora has been candid about the team’s offseason priorities following Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow’s sweeping four-trade, one-DFA overhaul on Tuesday. While praising Breslow’s work in clearing salary and creating roster flexibility, Cora made it clear that the ultimate goal for 2026 is simple: win the AL East and prepare a team built for October baseball.

In recent interviews, Cora articulated the two biggest areas the Red Sox must address to convert their young talent into a legitimate World Series contender.

1. Frontline Pitching: The Urgent Need for a No. 2 Starter

The most consistent message from Cora and the front office is the need for more starting pitching, specifically a frontline arm to stabilize the rotation behind ace Garrett Crochet.

“When we talk about pursuing opportunity to improve the team, bringing in pitching is certainly one of them,” Cora affirmed, adding that in the postseason, success is driven by pitching depth.

• The Target: The goal is to acquire a true No. 2 starter—a reliable presence that can carry a heavy workload and take pressure off young arms. This need has fueled persistent links to high-end free agents like Dylan Cease and trade targets.
• The Depth Challenge: Cora acknowledges the organizational depth, but emphasizes that proven, established pitching must be added to ensure the team doesn’t buckle under the strain of a long season or unexpected injuries.

2. Power and Production: A Middle-of-the-Order Bat

The Red Sox lineup, while talented, lacks the consistent, game-changing power needed to compete with the Yankees and Blue Jays. Cora is pushing for a slugger who can anchor the middle of the order.

Cora’s comments on the need for power align directly with the high-profile DFA of Nathaniel Lowe, which freed up salary for a pursuit of the biggest bats on the market.

• The Slugger Search: The team’s primary offensive targets are high-impact free agents like Pete Alonso and Kyle Schwarber, both of whom possess the long-ball ability and run production the Red Sox desperately need.
• Cora’s Lineup Plan: The manager is already debating where to slot young star Roman Anthony in the lineup—whether to maximize his on-base skills at the top, or move him to the cleanup spot—a decision that hinges entirely on which new power bat Breslow successfully acquires.

Trust in the Breslow Plan

Cora gave an effusive vote of confidence to Breslow’s aggressive approach, signaling a strong partnership between the manager and the CBO despite the chaos of the recent overhaul.

“He did an amazing job last year,” Cora said of Breslow’s previous moves, noting the successful acquisition of key pieces like Alex Bregman and Crochet. “Let him be, let him do the job.”

By publicly laying out these goals, Cora is putting the ball squarely in the front office’s court, challenging them to use the newly created financial flexibility to land the elite pitching and offensive firepower necessary to truly compete in 2026.