Browns: Chad Tracy voted third in AL Manager of the Year race after Red Sox turnaround

The Baseball Writers’ Association of America voted Red Sox manager Chad Tracy as the second runner-up, finishing third in the 2026 American League Manager of the Year Award voting. The winner was White Sox manager Will Venable, with Tampa Bay’s Kevin Cash placed ahead of Tracy.

Tracy’s rise to the ballot’s top tier came from an abrupt midseason promotion. According to MLB’s account of his season, Tracy was managing the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox on April 25 when Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow called him to report to the major leagues, with the move happening after the organization dismissed Alex Cora.

With the interim tag as a new reality, MLB reports that Tracy immediately emphasized calm, and that Boston’s clubhouse adjusted quickly to his style. The organization’s goal, in practice, was to keep the season from slipping away before a playoff picture that few expected to be reachable could still be targeted.

The turnaround had a specific catalyst in late June. MLB says Boston entered the June 25 game at 32-46, carrying the American League’s worst winning percentage (.410). After that date, the Red Sox went on a 32-5 run that pulled them back into postseason contention.

Under Tracy, MLB reports Boston went 77-58, including 55-29 over the final 84 games. The interim appointment was later converted into a three-year contract extension on Sept. 22.