The Cincinnati Reds have hired Terry Francona to be their new manager.
In an announcement given by the Reds on Friday, it was announced that Francona had agreed to a three-year contract with a club option for a fourth. This was an announcement that shocked both Reds and baseball fans.
At the end of last season, Francona had retired from managing after the Guardians finished with a 76-86 record. This was largely due to health concerns that led to questions regarding his future in the sport. When Francona announced his decision to step down as the Guardians manager, he believed it would be unlikely for him to manage again.
However, Francona has decided to return as he inherits a Reds team that is coming off of an injury-plagued campaign that saw them finish 77-85 and record a fourth place finish in the National League Central. This led to the firing of former manager David Bell, who had been handed a contract extension after finishing 82-80 the previous year. With a young core led by shortstop Elly De La Cruz, the Reds hope to return to playoff contention in the near future.
Francona’s ability to both build on promising young cores and turn around franchises quickly is likely what convinced the Reds to hire him. He helped break the 86-year Curse of the Bambino championship drought in Boston by winning the World Series in 2004 as well as advance to another one in 2007. Throughout Francona’s tenure in Boston, he reached the playoffs five times during his eight seasons with the team. In his time with the Guardians, he recorded four American League Central division titles and led the Guardians to the 2016 World Series. The Reds will be hoping for similar success with Francona at the helm as the team looks to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
