Red Sox manager Alex Cora has funny take on MLB's bigger bases

The increase in base size (15-inch squares to 18-inch squares) decreases the distance between bags and is expected to add more stolen bases to America's Pastime. The change is among a bevy of new rules or alterations that were approved for the 2023 season.

According to an ESPN report, Cora agrees with the league's new rules. The report adds that the updated base sizes "are primarily intended to promote safety — first basemen are less likely to get stepped on."

The Red Sox ranked 26th in MLB in stolen bases during the 2022 season with just 52 thefts, while Miami Marlins utilityman Jon Berti led the league with 41 steals on his own. Trevor Story led Boston with just 13.

Among the team's offseason acquisitions was infielder Adalberto Mondesi, who's a burner on the basepaths. The son of former All-Star outfielder Raul Mondesi had 32 steals in 2018, a career-high 43 in 2019 and a league-leading 24 during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign.

"Talking to the minor league coaches and everybody that used the rules last year — it's not that all of the sudden we're going to steal 100 bags with a guy," Cora said. "The value of the out is still in play, and you get 27. So you got to be smart, you got to be efficient."