After a year away from the game, former Red Sox manager Terry Francona has come out of retirement to join the Cincinnati Reds.
News of Francona’s acquisition broke late Thursday night, and the Reds made the move official on Friday, saying both sides had agreed to a three-year deal with a club option for 2028.
Francona, a three-time Manager of the Year, has managed 23 seasons in the major leagues since 1997, including four years with the Philadelphia Phillies, eight years with the Red Sox, and Cleveland. Includes 11 years with the Guardians. He had his greatest success in Boston, leading the Red Sox to two World Series championships, including a historic title in 2004 that ended the club’s 86-year drought.
He currently ranks second on the team’s all-time wins list behind Hall of Famer Joe Cronin with 744 wins and 552 losses, and his .574 winning percentage ranks second among Red Sox managers with at least four seasons at the helm. (Don Zimmer, .575).
After leaving the Red Sox, he became the winningest manager in Guardians franchise history, and in 2016 brought the team one game closer to winning the World Series for the first time since 1948. Cleveland ultimately lost to the Chicago Cubs in seven games.
Francona retired from the game after the 2023 season due to health issues, but as a baseball player, he now has the chance to get back to what he loves.
The 65-year-old will also have the chance to become the 13th manager in MLB history to reach 2,000 career wins. His career span now ranges from 1,950 to 1,672, trailing only Bruce Bochy (2,171) among active managers. All other eligible managers with more wins are enshrined in Cooperstown, with Bochy and Dusty Baker locks to earn Hall of Fame induction as soon as they become eligible.
First published: October 4, 2024 at 10:32am
