Manager Search: Red Sox Will Interview Alex Cora Today

The Red Sox begin their interview sessions for potential managers today when they meet with Alex Cora in New York.

Cora, who played for the Red Sox from 2005-08 and was known around these parts as "Einstein", is currently the bench coach for the Astros. ESPN reports that while Cora has no experience managing in the majors, he

has experience as both a manager and a general manager of a winter-ball team in Puerto Rico. He has a reputation as a strong communicator and a mentor for young players, and ... the former infielder is familiar with the heightened demands and expectations that exist in sports-crazed Boston.

Dave Dombrowski, the Red Sox's president of baseball operations:

We have a young core of players that are outstanding young talents. I think they have a chance to be championship-type players. They're still in their growth stage. It's a great foundation for a baseball club. ... [I]t's going to be very important for whomever it is to be able to relate to those youngsters and ... help them get better as players.

Peter Gammons tweeted on Saturday that Dombrowski "spoke at length with [Astros manager] A.J. Hinch Thursday and got a strong recommendation on Alex Cora".

There are reports that the Red Sox are also interested in talking with Brad Ausmus and Ron Gardenhire. (As long as the team is not actually interested in hiring Gardenhire, I guess it's okay if they talk to him.)