Alex Cora Contract: Red Sox got a steal in comparison to Cubs' Craig Counsell deal

The Boston Red Sox and Alex Cora agreed to the second-most expensive managerial contract in the history of MLB on July 24.

Before MLB insider Jeff Passan dropped the news that negotiations were occurring between the two parties, most reporters and experts did not see the deal coming before the end of the season. Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell created the concept of "managerial free agency" after he departed the Milwaukee Brewers organization in 2023, and he secured the largest manager contract in history before the 2024 slate. It was widely theorized Cora would take the same route.

Even without the free agent stint, Cora got his payday. The skipper will take home $21.75 million over the next three seasons, good for $7.25 million annually. Counsell makes $8 million a year from the Cubs and many experts believe Cora could've received a similar deal. In fact, some might argue he should be making more. Cora has a far better track record than Counsell. The fact Counsell got two more years and nearly double the money shows how the Red Sox got an absolute steal.

He could've gone through with free agency just to come back to Boston and get some extra money out of the front office based on other offers throughout the league. But Cora said he didn't delay his extension discussions with the Red Sox for monetary gain.

“I promise you, this decision was more based on the comfort of my family than my professional career,” he said to ESPN.

By passing on free agency, Alex Cora saved the Red Sox money

Cora has four children, including two young sons who were born during the 2017 season and have spent most of their lives growing up in the Boston area. Even before he was open to discussing a contract extension with the Red Sox front office, he said that his house in Newton would not be up for sale.

The 48-year-old manager said he looks forward to his family's future in Boston. It sounds like he had every intention to remain in the city he won two World Series with — one as a player and one as the man in charge.

"I'm very comfortable. I love wearing this uniform. I love the passion this city brings on a daily basis, regardless if we're winning or losing," Cora said in his July 24 postgame presser. ". . . I love everything that comes with this uniform. I love everything that comes with the Red Sox. Like I said in 2017, it's the closest thing to back home."

The Red Sox front office got lucky. Not every skipper would've passed up a free-agent stint to get more money out of their next contract.

But Cora signed in Boston under the condition that they win as much as possible. His commitment to the Red Sox is unwavering, and soon we'll see if the front office feels the same at the trade deadline.

More Red Sox reads: