Alex Cora on Astros' sign-stealing scandal: 'We were all responsible'

Alex Cora remained silent following punishment for the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal which saw him, A.J. Hinch and Jeff Luhnow suspended and subsequently lose their jobs.

Cora has since accepted responsibility for his role in the scandal, but made it clear that he wasn't the ring leader in the scheme.

"There has been a narrative out there of what happened. Ever since mid-November until the commissioner announced the results of the Red Sox investigation, I have read many things that are true and many others that are not," he said to ESPN's Marly Rivera. "Out of this whole process, if there is one thing that I completely reject and disagree with is people within the Astros' organization singling me out, particularly [former general manager] Jeff Luhnow, as if I were the sole mastermind. The commissioner's report sort of explained, in its own way, what happened. But the [Astros players] have spoken up and refuted any allegations that I was solely responsible.

"If there is one thing I am absolutely sure of, it is that it was not a two-man show. We all did it. And let me be very clear that I am not denying my responsibility, because we were all responsible."

The Red Sox parted ways with Cora after he was suspended by Major League Baseball and he remained silent about the matter out of respect for the investigation, he added. Cora also told Rivera that he would love to return to baseball, but his focus right now is on his family and personal life. 

The 44-year-old led the Red Sox to a 108-54 record and a World Series championship during his first year as manager in 2018, but failed in his second season with Boston going just 84-78. 

Ron Roenicke has taken over as Boston's manager for the 2020 campaign, and many seem to think the Red Sox will bring Cora back once his suspension is over. Roenicke may never even see a single game as Boston's manager if MLB and the players' association can't come to an agreement to begin the season.