Lowell: I'd 'love to' manage Red Sox for 1 year if Cora returned afterward

One former Boston Red Sox player and World Series MVP is ready to take over the team's dugout duties, on two conditions.

"I would love to (manage the Red Sox) if I knew it was just for one year and (Alex) Cora was guaranteed to come back," Mike Lowell told Rob Bradford of WEEI in a text message.

Lowell spent five seasons with the Red Sox, including the 2007 campaign, during which he hit .324/.378/.501 with 21 homers and 120 RBIs over 154 games to finish fifth in AL MVP voting. The two-time All-Star went on to win World Series MVP honors that postseason.

The 45-year-old now works as an analyst for MLB Network.

The Red Sox and Cora mutually agreed to part ways Tuesday due to the manager's role in stealing signs as a member of the Houston Astros' coaching staff.

Despite the split, Red Sox executives were effusive in their praise of the disgraced skipper.

"Alex is a special person and a beloved member of the Red Sox," team owner John Henry, chairman Tom Werner, and CEO Sam Kennedy said in a statement. They added: "We will miss his passion, his energy, and his significant contributions to the communities of New England and Puerto Rico."

Boston's decision to part with Cora came one day after the league published a nine-page report finding the Astros guilty of stealing signs during the 2017-18 seasons and the 2017 postseason. The report heavily implicated Cora in the Astros' scheme. Houston manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow were both handed one-year suspensions by MLB and subsequently fired by team owner Jim Crane following the release of the report.

Cora has not yet been disciplined by the league, but an investigation into the Red Sox and a subsequent report from the commissioner's office are still forthcoming.