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Alex Cora stands with Dave Dombrowski and Sam Kennedy after the Red Sox clinched the 2018 ALCS and advanced to the World Series.

Just hours after being fired by the Boston Red Sox, Alex Cora didn’t retreat quietly.

He picked up the phone.

And the person he called says everything about where he stands — both personally and professionally — in the wake of one of the most surprising managerial moves of the MLB season.

According to Philadelphia Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, Cora reached out to him directly on Saturday night, shortly after news of his dismissal broke.

“He actually called me Saturday night,” Dombrowski said, via Red Sox reporter Gabrielle Starr of The Boston Herald. “He just called me as a friend Saturday night after he had heard about it. I guess he calls me one of his mentors. We talked, and he had never been through that before.”

That moment stands out.

Not an agent. Not a front office making inquiries. Not a media statement.

Cora called a mentor.

A Personal Call — Not a Job Pitch

The timing of the call is what makes it significant.

Cora had just been let go by the Red Sox — a move that immediately sent shockwaves through the league and put one of baseball’s most respected managers on the open market.

But instead of immediately exploring his next opportunity, Cora turned inward.

Dombrowski made it clear this wasn’t about lining up a job.

It was about navigating something new.

“I talked to him on Sunday morning,” Dombrowski added. “We talked about potentially taking the [manager] job. I had told him I had really come to the conclusion that if he took it, I was going to make a change. I thought he might take it.”

That conversation quickly evolved from personal to professional — but it started with something far more telling.

Cora needed perspective.

A Relationship Built on Winning

The connection between Cora and Dombrowski isn’t casual.

The two were central figures in the Red Sox’s 2018 World Series run — one of the most dominant seasons in franchise history. Dombrowski brought Cora to Boston, and together they delivered a championship.

That shared history matters here.

Even years later, in a moment of uncertainty, Cora turned to one of the most influential figures in his career.

And the respect clearly goes both ways.

“I think Alex Cora is one of the finest managers in the game of baseball,” Dombrowski said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to work with Hall of Fame managers like Tony La Russa and Jim Leyland… I think if Alex Cora decides to keep managing again, he has a chance to be in that same category.”

That’s not casual praise.

That’s a longtime executive placing Cora in elite company.

What Comes Next

The immediate takeaway is simple: Cora isn’t rushing.

Despite immediate interest — including a potential opening in Philadelphia — he’s taking a step back following a sudden and emotional exit from Boston.

That alone speaks volumes.

Managers with his track record don’t stay available for long. And based on how quickly his name surfaced in connection with another job, the demand is already there.

But for now, the first move wasn’t about the next team.

It was about the right call.

And in that moment, Alex Cora didn’t call a franchise.

He called someone he trusted.