Reds hire Terry Francona to be their new manager (report)
The Reds are hiring Terry Francona to be their next manager, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. Francona will receive a three-year contract, according to MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon.
Francona, 65, stepped down as the Guardians manager after the 2023 season. This will be the fourth team he will manage in his career, which has spanned 23 seasons. He has a 1,950-1,672 record with the Phillies (1997-2000), Red Sox (2004-2011), and Guardians (2013-2023). Francona is a two-time World Series champion, leading the Red Sox to titles in 2004 and 2007.
Under Francona, Cleveland won the 2016 American League pennant but lost the World Series to the Cubs in seven games.
The news of Francona’s hiring comes 11 days after the Reds fired David Bell. In six seasons under Bell, the Reds went 409-456 (.473), finishing in third place or lower in the division. The Reds did finish in second place during the COVID-shortened season in 2020.
Francona has dealt with health concerns in recent years, causing him to miss time managing. When the future Hall of Fame manager stepped down from the Guardians last October, he told reporters, "I need to go home and get healthy and see what I miss about the game. I don't foresee managing again. If I was going to manage, I like doing it here. But I also don’t want to just turn away from the game.”
He will take over a team flush with young talent, including star shortstop Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, Spencer Steer, Tyler Stephenson, Jonathan India, Noel Marte, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand. Francona will also have four young starters to lead his rotation: Hunter Greene, Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, and rookie right-hander Rhett Lowder.
Francona played for the Reds in 1987 under the late Pete Rose. He played in 102 games where he hit .227 with three homers and 12 RBI.
With their skipper in place, the Reds now have a new hurdle, their TV revenue situation, as Diamond Sports is reportedly planning to cut ties with the organization.
