Could Alex Cora return to a MLB dugout during the 2026 season?

Following a 10-17 start to the season, the Boston Red Sox parted ways with manager Alex Cora and five coaches.

Cora failed to make the most of an admittedly flawed roster, Craig Breslow thought it was time to pull the plug.

While that made sense to a degree, Cora has the credentials and the league-wide respect to land another job pretty soon.

In fact, MLB insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today believes he might not be unemployed for long, maybe not even for a full week.

The Philadelphia Phillies could hire Alex Cora

"There’s no time for Alex Cora to file for unemployment. He might not even have time to get back to Fenway Park to clean out his office," Nightengale wrote. "Cora, who was fired Saturday, April 25, by the Boston Red Sox, is going to be managing again, and quickly."

More specifically, Nightengale wouldn't be shocked if the Phillies moved on from Rob Thomson to hire Cora.

"Who knows, he could be managing the Philadelphia Phillies by the time they return home Tuesday, April 28, to face the San Francisco Giants, and yes, former Red Sox slugger Rafael Devers," the report added. 

This makes perfect sense. Cora has a close relationship with Dave Dombrowski from their days together in Boston, and the Phillies have also underachieved mightily to start the season.

The Phillies just broke a 10-game losing streak and sit at the bottom of the National League. They have a talented roster and were expected to be World Series contenders.

The rumblings around Thomson have been loud for quite a while now, and with this much time to turn the season around, the Red Sox may have given the Phillies a huge gift with this decision.