The Red Sox and manager Alex Cora have reportedly engaged in recent contract talks and are making progress towards an extension, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Buster Olney.

Passan reported that momentum is building towards a multi-year deal, which Olney said is believed to be in the range of three years, $21.75 million. That would make Cora the second-highest paid manager in MLB behind Chicago’s Craig Counsell.

News: The Boston Red Sox and manager Alex Cora have engaged in recent talks on a contract extension, and there is momentum toward a deal, sources tell me and @Buster_ESPN. After months of silence regarding Cora’s lame-duck status, a multiyear contract is a real possibility.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 24, 2024

The news is a major development in what has lingered as one of the biggest sources of uncertainty facing the Red Sox going forward. Cora’s current deal in Boston is set to expire after this season, and if he reaches free agency Cora would immediately become the most highly sought after managerial candidate of the offseason.

After Counsell reset the market for managers with his five-year, $40 million contract with the Chicago Cubs last winter, Cora would likely command similar money and it isn’t clear if the Red Sox would be willing to make that kind of commitment.

For his part, Cora has refused to discuss his contract status or his future in Boston publicly. The only major update he’s provided since Opening Day was that he and the team had tabled any discussions and didn’t plan to hold any negotiations until after the season.

“We’re not talking about contracts during the season,” Cora said on May 31. “We’ll play it out and whatever is decided is decided.”

Red Sox manager offers update on contract discussions with team

The fact that stance appears to have changed is notable and suggests Cora and the Red Sox could wind up sticking together after all.

Cora already ranks as one of the most accomplished managers in team history, having won a World Series title in 2018 before climbing to fourth in franchise history with 494 wins entering Wednesday. He initially managed two seasons between 2018-19 before he was fired ahead of the 2020 season due to his involvement in the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal, but was rehired after his year-long suspension ended and has managed continuously since 2021.

If Cora remains in Boston past this season he will become just the fifth person to manage the Red Sox for seven or more seasons.