Terry Francona is apparently feeling better.
One year after the longtime manager stepped down from his post with the Cleveland Guardians, the Cincinnati Reds hired him as their new manager, making it official on Friday. Francona agreed to a three-year contract through the 2027 season, with a club option for 2028. The Reds fired manager David Bell last month after six seasons.
Francona’s exit from Cleveland was presented as a retirement amid health concerns for the 65-year-old. Francona went as far as saying that he didn’t see himself managing again, though he also seemed to leave some doors open, via MLB.com:
“I never was real concerned about the word ‘retire’ because I guess when you say ‘retire,’ it’s like you’re going home and not doing anything,” Francona said. “I know I need to go home and get healthy and see what I miss about our game. And then maybe after some time, see the best way to maybe quench that appetite, whatever it is.
“I don’t foresee managing. Again, I don’t have a crystal ball. Nobody does. Because if I was gonna manage, I like doing it here. But I also don’t want to just turn away from the game.”
One year later, Francona is jumping back into MLB, with the other team in Ohio. The Reds will be the fourth team he has led in a managerial career that goes back to 1997.
Francona brings a résumé that no other Cincinnati candidate could match. He holds a 1,948-1,670 record over 23 years, with two World Series titles with the Boston Red Sox, another AL title with the Guardians and three Manager of the Year awards.
He will be tasked with bringing similar results to a team that has reached the playoffs once in the past 11 years and hasn’t won a playoff series since 1995. The Reds took a notable step back this season, going from 82-80 in 2023 to 77-85 in 2024.
The Reds aren’t without talent, though. Elly De La Cruz has become one of the faces of MLB, and Hunter Greene was one of the best pitchers in the NL this season. Behind them, there’s a lot to work on. That said, the Reds have some young talent coming, with the No. 14 farm system in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline.
