REPORT: MLB Investigating Red Sox' Alex Cora

Major League Baseball has opened an investigation into Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora after comments he made appeared to confirm that the team attempted to retaliate against New York Yankees star Aaron Judge during their game on September 14, 2024.

The incident in question began when Yankees ace Gerrit Cole hit Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers with a pitch in the first inning and later intentionally walked him in the fourth, leading Cora to believe Cole was avoiding facing Devers.

In the sixth inning, Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello threw a pitch behind Judge, which many saw as a retaliatory gesture. Cora's postgame remarks seemed to imply that the pitch was deliberate, sparking the league's inquiry.

Alex Cora basically admitted that Brayan Bello tried plunking Aaron Judge on purpose. He was asked if he considered yesterday's IBB/HBP fiasco closed:

"It was closed yesterday around the sixth inning. We had our chance. It didn't happen." pic.twitter.com/x1z4iA0HfF
— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) September 15, 2024

Speaking to reporters before Sunday’s game, Cora further fueled speculation when he stated, "It was closed [Saturday] around the sixth inning. We had our chance. It didn’t happen."

This comment suggested that the Red Sox had indeed intended to retaliate for the earlier hit-by-pitch on Devers, even though Bello's pitch missed Judge.

While Judge downplayed the incident, admitting that such unwritten rules about retaliation have existed in baseball for over a century, MLB has taken the matter seriously.

The league is now investigating whether the Red Sox violated conduct policies by attempting to hit Judge on purpose.