Wanting to save his team from public shame, Alex Cora spoke to the Boston Red Sox pitching staff about Major League Baseball's rule changes regarding using illegal foreign substances on the mound.

"I come from a suspension and I know how embarrassing that is and how tough that is not only on you as a person, but your family and your friends and the people that you love," Cora said. "Ten games a year, two years, three years, it doesn't matter. Being suspended is hell and you don't want to go through that. I was very open to [the team] and hopefully they understand."

In April 2020, MLB announced that Cora would "be suspended through the conclusion of the 2020 postseason for his conduct as bench coach for the Houston Astros in 2017."