Alex Cora has interesting comments about his Red Sox future

Dec 11, 2018; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora talks to the media during the MLB Winter Meetings at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Clark-USA TODAY Sports

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora is in the final year of his contract, and he certainly is not doing much to clear up what his future might look like.

Cora discussed his contract status this week and made clear he has no intention of negotiating a new deal in the middle of the season. That will lead to speculation that Cora might be open to testing the market this offseason, and when that idea was put to him directly, he was notably evasive.

“My intent is to manage today, and then keep helping this team to be better,” Cora said, via Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic. “I think we have something good going on as far as developing players, and it’s a challenge right now, of course with all the injuries, but I feel really good where I’m at. I feel really good where I’m at in my personal life, which is the most important thing. I love the Red Sox, but the Cora-Feliciano team is my No. 1 team, and we’re good where we’re at.”

On one hand, Cora certainly sounds content to stay with the Red Sox. On the other hand, he’s probably in line for a big payday, especially if he gives multiple teams the opportunity to bid on him.

Cora has a World Series title in Boston, and the organization even brought him back after initially firing him over his role in the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal. Despite that warmth, however, the Red Sox appear to already be doing their due diligence on possibly having to replace him.