Alex Cora firing opens the door wide for David Ross to land his next managerial gig

David Ross has had chances to return to the dugout since the Chicago Cubs abruptly fired him after shocking the baseball world and luring Craig Counsell away from Milwaukee following the 2023 season.

But he's held out for the chance to manage again - and his patience may wind up paying off.

The Boston Red Sox fired Alex Cora on Saturday, naming Triple-A manager Chad Tracy as the interim skipper. Craig Breslow not only cut his manager, but also took a hacksaw to the larger coaching staff, dumping bench coach Ramon Vazquez, third base coach Kyle Hudson, hitting coaches Pete Fatse and Dillon Lawson and strategy coach Joe Cronin. The club also re-assigned Jason Varitek to a new role as part of the far-reaching shake-up.

A 10-17 start isn't what anyone in Boston envisioned - and it's too soon to know whether the Red Sox will look to bring in a new manager right away or wait until next offseason - but regardless of the timing, Ross seems like a name to keep an eye on as that search takes shape.

David Ross and Craig Breslow have an intimate knowledge of one another

Ross had two stints in Boston as a player, winning a World Series with the Red Sox in 2013. The familiarity with the organization doesn't necessarily move him up the pecking order in terms of candidates, but I don't think it hurts anything - especially when he was known as a key veteran presence that helped lead the team to a title, much the same as he did with Chicago in 2016.

Chicago brings us the second - and more important - connection. Ross knows Breslow intimately, as the latter joined the Cubs front office in 2019, eventually rising to the role of Assistant GM and Vice President of Pitching before departing to call the shots in Boston. Ross, meanwhile was a special assistant in the front office after his retirement and succeeded Joe Maddon as manager, serving in that role from 2020-2023.

That familiarity could prove to be a difference-maker if Ross is among the candidates to replace Cora in Boston. He never had what I'd call a legitimate playoff-caliber roster during his run as Cubs manager and, armed with the righ talent, I think he's got more to prove in the dugout - and this opportunity in Boston could be perfect.

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