Reds hiring 2-time World Series champion Terry Francona as manager, reports say


The Cincinnati Reds have reportedly found their next manager, according to multiple reports.Mark Feinsand of MLB.com was first to report late Thursday night that the Reds are planning to hire two-time World Series-winning manager Terry Francona to be the team’s next manager.Francona, 65, stepped down at the end of the 2023 season after 23 seasons as a manager with the Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox and Cleveland.Nicknamed “Tito,” Francona won two World Series championships with the Red Sox in 2004 and 2007. He also led Cleveland to the 2016 World Series before losing to the Chicago Cubs.Francona has compiled a record of 1,950-1,672 over his time as an MLB manager, winning at least 90 games in 12 different seasons.Francona’s most recent coaching stint came in Cleveland, where he spent 11 years and won 921 games.Francona would bring a wealth of experience to the helm of the Reds. In addition to his managerial career, Francona spent 10 seasons as a player, including one season with the Reds in 1987.Francona also spent time with the Montreal Expos, Cubs, Cleveland Indians (now Guardians) and Milwaukee Brewers from 1981-90.The Reds have not confirmed the hire, which was reported by multiple MLB insiders late Thursday. The report that the Reds are set to hire Francona came after Cincinnati parted ways with manager David Bell late last month.Bell, 52, managed the Reds to a 409-456 record over nearly six seasons, beginning in 2019. The team did not win a postseason game on his watch. A three-time Manager of the Year, Francona is the 13th-winningest manager in MLB history.In 23 seasons as a manager, Francona has finished with a losing record just six times, four of which came with the Phillies from 1997-2000.During his time as manager in Cleveland, Francona dealt with several health-related problems that kept him out of the dugout for stretches of time.That included the 2021 season, when Francona missed the final 63 games of the season after undergoing a hip replacement. If Francona is officially named the Reds manager, the veteran skipper will look to guide the Reds back to the playoffs for the first time since the shortened-2020 season.Going into 2024, many around the league firmly expected the Reds to compete for a NL Central title, with many players set to play their first full seasons in the Majors.That, however, did not materialize, as the Reds dealt with a myriad number of injuries and underperformance from key players, including to second baseman Matt McClain, center fielder TJ Friedl and third baseman Noelvi Marte, who was suspended 80 games after testing positive for a banned substance.The Reds will enter 2025 with at least two players who appear set to be building blocks of the future: shortstop Elly De La Cruz and starting pitcher Hunter Greene.De La Cruz and Greene each took tremendous steps in their development, with both earning All-Star nods and likely consideration for MVP and Cy Young, respectively, when the votes are tallied.

The Cincinnati Reds have reportedly found their next manager, according to multiple reports.

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com was first to report late Thursday night that the Reds are planning to hire two-time World Series-winning manager Terry Francona to be the team’s next manager.

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You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Francona, 65, stepped down at the end of the 2023 season after 23 seasons as a manager with the Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox and Cleveland.

Nicknamed “Tito,” Francona won two World Series championships with the Red Sox in 2004 and 2007. He also led Cleveland to the 2016 World Series before losing to the Chicago Cubs.

Francona has compiled a record of 1,950-1,672 over his time as an MLB manager, winning at least 90 games in 12 different seasons.

Francona’s most recent coaching stint came in Cleveland, where he spent 11 years and won 921 games.

Francona would bring a wealth of experience to the helm of the Reds. In addition to his managerial career, Francona spent 10 seasons as a player, including one season with the Reds in 1987.

Francona also spent time with the Montreal Expos, Cubs, Cleveland Indians (now Guardians) and Milwaukee Brewers from 1981-90.

The Reds have not confirmed the hire, which was reported by multiple MLB insiders late Thursday.

The report that the Reds are set to hire Francona came after Cincinnati parted ways with manager David Bell late last month.

Bell, 52, managed the Reds to a 409-456 record over nearly six seasons, beginning in 2019. The team did not win a postseason game on his watch.

A three-time Manager of the Year, Francona is the 13th-winningest manager in MLB history.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

In 23 seasons as a manager, Francona has finished with a losing record just six times, four of which came with the Phillies from 1997-2000.

During his time as manager in Cleveland, Francona dealt with several health-related problems that kept him out of the dugout for stretches of time.

That included the 2021 season, when Francona missed the final 63 games of the season after undergoing a hip replacement.

If Francona is officially named the Reds manager, the veteran skipper will look to guide the Reds back to the playoffs for the first time since the shortened-2020 season.

Going into 2024, many around the league firmly expected the Reds to compete for a NL Central title, with many players set to play their first full seasons in the Majors.

That, however, did not materialize, as the Reds dealt with a myriad number of injuries and underperformance from key players, including to second baseman Matt McClain, center fielder TJ Friedl and third baseman Noelvi Marte, who was suspended 80 games after testing positive for a banned substance.

The Reds will enter 2025 with at least two players who appear set to be building blocks of the future: shortstop Elly De La Cruz and starting pitcher Hunter Greene.

De La Cruz and Greene each took tremendous steps in their development, with both earning All-Star nods and likely consideration for MVP and Cy Young, respectively, when the votes are tallied.







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