The Cincinnati Reds have made headlines by announcing the hiring of Terry Francona as their new manager, agreeing to a three-year contract with an option for a fourth season. Francona, who had previously retired after a successful 23-season tenure as an MLB manager, will be stepping back into a managerial role.
Nick Krall, the Reds’ president of baseball operations, expressed enthusiasm about Francona’s appointment, highlighting his qualifications as a future Hall of Fame manager with a proven track record of developing young talent. “I’m extremely excited that he wanted to be a Red, and he is the right person to take us towards our goal of winning a championship,” Krall stated.
At 65 years old, Francona takes the helm of a Reds team filled with promising young players. He recently completed an 11-season stint with the Cleveland Guardians, where he achieved a winning percentage of nearly 55% and led the Boston Red Sox to two World Series titles, including the historic 2004 championship that ended an 86-year title drought.
Francona’s decision to return to managing comes after concerns regarding his health, which previously raised doubts about his future in the sport. He had announced his retirement from the Guardians in October 2023, indicating he needed time to focus on his health. However, he is now eager to lead a team that underperformed last season, finishing 77-85 after a promising 82-80 record in 2023.
The Reds recently parted ways with manager David Bell, and Francona will now guide a roster featuring young talents such as shortstop Elly De La Cruz and other promising players, including Matt McLain, Spencer Steer, Tyler Stephenson, Jonathan India, Noelvi Marte, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand. The pitching staff, led by Hunter Greene, also holds significant promise with the addition of rookies Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, and Rhett Lowder.
In his statement, Francona expressed his excitement about joining the Reds organization, acknowledging Cincinnati’s rich baseball history and his anticipation of working with the team’s young players.
With 1,950 career wins, Francona is on the verge of surpassing Leo Durocher for 12th place on the all-time managerial wins list, with an eye toward catching Walter Alston, who sits at 11th with 2,040 victories. Francona’s previous experience also includes a stint as a player with the Reds in 1987, during which he discovered the city’s strong baseball culture.