He previously played in MLB for 14 seasons with the Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, New York Mets, Texas Rangers, and Washington Nationals.

After retiring as a player, Cora served as the bench coach for the Houston Astros when they won their first World Series title in 2017.

Cora was named Boston's manager the following season, winning a franchise-best 108 games and leading the team to victory in the 2018 World Series.

[8] Cora spent the next seven years in Los Angeles, appearing in a total of 684 games while batting .246 with 27 home runs and 173 RBI.

With the emergence of César Izturis in 2002, and the trade of Grudzielanek to the Chicago Cubs in December of the same year, Cora spent the rest of his stint with the Dodgers as their primary second baseman.

[10] Cora made his Red Sox debut on July 7, 2005, and through the end of the regular season appeared in a total of 47 games for Boston, batting .269 with two home runs and 16 RBI.

In the 2005 ALDS, which Boston lost to the Chicago White Sox in a three-game sweep, Cora played in one game as a defensive replacement, without a plate appearance.

With the trade of Rentería to the Atlanta Braves in December 2005, Cora was being eyed to take the position of starting shortstop, until the Red Sox acquired Álex González in February 2006.

On August 17, 2010, Cora signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers,[15] and was assigned to their Triple-A affiliate Oklahoma City, where he appeared in six games, batting 4-for-22 (.182).

Cora's final MLB appearance was with the Nationals on September 28, 2011, when he tripled as a pinch hitter against the Florida Marlins.

[19] After batting .208 with one RBI in 24 plate appearances in spring training, Cora was released by the defending World Series champions on March 25, 2012.

[21] As of September 2020[update], it is tied for fifth place among the longest at bats since 1988, when statisticians began tracking pitch counts.

[28] In March 2016, Cora was named as general manager of the team;[29][30] he served in that position through the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

[42][43] On October 22, the day after the Astros defeated the New York Yankees in the 2017 ALCS, the Red Sox announced a three-year managerial contract for Cora, for the 2018 through 2020 seasons, with an option for 2021.

[49] The Red Sox then defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series in five games to give Cora his first championship as a manager and third overall.

[50] Cora became the fifth rookie manager to win a World Series, the others being Bob Brenly in 2001, Ralph Houk in 1961, Eddie Dyer in 1946, Bucky Harris in 1924.

[51] In voting for the AL Manager of the Year Award, Cora finished second to Bob Melvin of the Oakland Athletics.

[52] On November 14, 2018, the Red Sox announced that they had renegotiated Cora's contract, including an extension through the 2021 season, with a club option for 2022.

[54] On January 7, 2020, The Athletic published a report alleging that the 2018 Red Sox broke MLB rules by using a video replay room during regular season games to decipher the signs of opposing catchers, according to three unnamed sources who were with the team that year.

[55] On January 13, MLB's findings regarding Houston's sign stealing were announced, including that Cora "was the only non-player involved in the subterfuge.

According to a joint statement issued by majority owner John Henry, chairman Tom Werner and president Sam Kennedy, all parties involved concluded that given the nature of the findings, Cora could not effectively lead the team.

[58][59] On April 22, 2020, commissioner Rob Manfred issued findings from MLB's investigation about electronic sign-stealing by the 2018 Red Sox.

[61] On November 22, 2021, the Red Sox announced that they exercised their 2023–2024 option to extend Cora's contract as manager of the team.